Former LSU coach Brian Kelly is taking the school to court, asking a judge to clarify that he was not fired for cause and is entitled to a buyout of close to $54 million.
Kelly’s attorneys sued the school late Monday, hours after LSU representatives told them via phone on Monday that Kelly hadn’t actually been terminated when LSU’s coaching change was announced on Oct. 26 and now were seeking to do so for cause.
The Baton Rouge Advocate, which reviewed the 48-page court filing, reported that the petition for declaratory judgment revealed LSU’s stand as follows:
“LSU took the position that Coach Kelly had not been formally terminated and informed Coach Kelly’s representatives, for the very first time, that LSU believed grounds for termination for cause existed,” the lawsuit said.
The suit was filed in the 19th Judicial District for East Baton Rouge Parish.
LSU has not said publicly what contractual issue Kelly might have breached to have been fired for cause.
The two sides have been squabbling over the $54 million buyout, with Kelly turning down two settlement offers, per The Advocate.
Kelly’s attorneys had given the school a Monday deadline of 6 p.m. ET to confirm in writing that they intended to pay him the full amount, or he would “pursue all available legal remedies,” per the report.
If he were to be fired for cause, LSU would not be bound to pay the full buyout.
Kelly was removed from the job after a 5-3 start to his fourth season with the Tigers. He signed a 10-year, $95 million deal in November 2021.
At the time of the coaching change, LSU sounded very much like a school that had fired its coach based on performance on the field. In a school news release, now-former athletic director Scott Woodward said this, the day after the Tigers lost to No. 3 Texas A&M:
“When Coach Kelly arrived at LSU four years ago, we had high hopes that he would lead us to multiple SEC and national championships during his time in Baton Rouge,” Woodward said. “Ultimately, the success at the level that LSU demands simply did not materialize, and I made the decision to make a change after last night’s game. … We will continue to negotiate his separation and will work toward a path that is better for both parties.”
According to the filing, LSU’s representatives told Kelly’s team that Woodward did not have “the authority to terminate Coach Kelly and/or make settlement offers to him” in October, meaning Kelly technically was not terminated, ESPN reported.
Woodward was dismissed by the LSU board of supervisors days later after Gov. Jeff Landry blasted the terms of the Kelly contract and vowed Woodward would not be involved in hiring the Tigers’ next coach.
Kelly, 64, compiled a 34-14 record at LSU. His 200-76 career record (10-6 in bowl games) includes stops at Central Michigan (2004-06), Cincinnati (2007-09) and Notre Dame (2010-21).