Copyright Athlon Sports
The LSU Tigers football program is searching for a new head coach after firing Brian Kelly. As such, Kelly’s buyout is $54 million, joining a long list of coaches who have been fired despite lofty contracts. Those coaches include James Franklin ($49 million) and Billy Napier ($21 million). It remains to be seen what LSU does next regarding the head coach. However, tackling the massive buyout for Kelly has been a topic of conversation. Recently, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was concerned about the contract buyout and even stated that taxpayers could be on the hook for it. “After three hours of pouring through the contract and looking at everything, it’s very simple, ultimately the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana taxpayers would be ultimately responsible for paying that amount,” Landry said. LSU Board of Supervisors member and athletics committee chair John Carmouche addressed those comments, per Hunt Palmer of Louisiana Sports Net. “Let me make it clear. The governor had a right to be concerned, and we’re working toward solutions. Everything is on the table. Let me make it clear. The state has never, and the taxpayers have never paid for a coach and never will,” Carmouche said. Scott Ballard, the LSU Board of Supervisors Chair, also echoed a similar statement. “Revenue stream, as I’ve said before, is generated from the athletic department,” Ballard said. “It’s self-generated funds or private donations. That’s where it comes from. It does not come from state dollars that are allocated toward other things like education.” Right now, LSU has a lot of things to figure out, and it doesn’t help that Kelly’s buyout is more than $50 million. However, taxpayers aren’t going to be responsible for it, at least for the time being.
