Brian Kelly wins $54 million buyout from LSU after filing lawsuit

A wild twist within the already ugly divorce between Brian Kelly and LSU had a cheerful ending for the previous Tigers coach.

Kelly will obtain the rest of the $54 million he’s owed after a lawsuit filed by Kelly alleged the varsity tried to keep away from paying it.

The coach filed a lawsuit in opposition to LSU, claiming the varsity tried to keep away from the buyout after he instructed Kelly’s representatives that she had not formally fired him and as a substitute wished to fireplace him for trigger.

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LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly throughout a sport in opposition to the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on September 1, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Gus Stark/LSU/Getty Photographs)

Nevertheless, Kelly obtained a letter from the varsity on Wednesday stating that he had been formally dismissed with out trigger and that he’s owed “liquidated damages” beneath his contract.

LSU defined within the letter that Kelly has a authorized obligation to make “good religion, affordable and protracted efforts” to acquire one other job in soccer whereas nonetheless being paid by LSU.

When then-athletic director Scott Woodward formally introduced Kelly’s departure, he stated, “We had excessive expectations that he would lead us to a number of SEC and nationwide championships throughout his time in Baton Rouge. Finally, success on the stage LSU calls for merely didn’t materialize, and I made the choice to make a change after final night time’s sport.”

Louisiana State College head coach Brian Kelly in the course of the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina on August 30, 2025. (Ken Ruinard/USA As we speak Community South Carolina/USA As we speak Community through Imagn Photographs)

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Woodward has since left his put up after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated he wouldn’t enable Woodward to rent the subsequent coach, claiming he would favor President Donald Trump make the choice.

Nevertheless, the lawsuit alleged that Kelly’s representatives had been instructed by LSU that Kelly was by no means formally fired as a result of Woodward didn’t even have “the authority to fireplace Coach Kelly and/or make settlement affords to him.”

In his feedback about Woodward, Landry additionally blamed the previous athletic director for the $77 million given to Jimbo Fisher, whom Woodward employed and whose contract negotiations he oversaw when Fisher was let go by Texas A&M.

Kelly’s firing got here shortly after Penn State fired James Franklin as a number of main school prospects opened up this season. Franklin has since transferred to Virginia Tech, however Kelly has but to seek out his subsequent touchdown spot.

LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly throughout warm-ups earlier than the sport in opposition to the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Tiger Stadium. (Stephen Lew/Imagn Photographs)

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Kelly has a file of 297-109-2, courting again to his days as coach of Division II faculty Grand Valley State from 1991 to 2003. He spent 12 seasons at Notre Dame earlier than heading to Baton Rouge and in addition had stops at Central Michigan and Cincinnati.

Fox Information’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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