The lingering feud between LSU and fired football coach Brian Kelly is getting messier, potentially complicating the all-out efforts by the Tigers to win the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes.
Kelly’s lawyers recently alleged LSU’s handling of ongoing buyout negotiations is preventing him from getting hired elsewhere.
“There is absolutely no basis to LSU’s contrived positions that Coach Kelly was not terminated or that cause existed for such termination,” Kelly’s attorney, Skadden partner Rob Fullerton, said in a Nov. 18 letter to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and board of supervisors member John H. Carmouche, a copy of which was obtained by Front Office Sports.
“LSU’s conduct, including its failure to confirm that Coach Kelly was terminated without cause and its unsupported allegations of misconduct on the part of Coach Kelly, has made it nearly impossible for Coach Kelly to secure other football-related employment,” the letter continued. “LSU’s conduct continues to harm Coach Kelly, particularly during this critical hiring period, and Coach Kelly reserves all rights to seek any and all damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
ESPN first obtained a copy of the letter and revealed its contents.
Earlier this month, Kelly filed a lawsuit against LSU to force the university to pay the full $53 million worth of his buyout after being fired Oct. 26. The lawsuit said LSU informed Kelly it had taken the position that he had not been “formally terminated,” and that it was going to argue he was fired “for cause,” meaning it wouldn’t owe him his $53 million buyout. LSU has not commented on the matter, citing the ongoing legal case multiple times.
Beyond LSU, 11 other FBS programs have fired their head coach since the season started, and several more could make moves following the end of the regular season Saturday. Virginia Tech has already hired a new coach in James Franklin, who was fired by Penn State 12 days before LSU let Kelly go.
LSU’s inability to finalize its separation agreement with Kelly comes as the school is making a huge push to try to hire Kiffin away from Ole Miss. LSU is likely prepared to make Kiffin the highest-paid coach in college football, surpassing the $13.28 million annual salary Georgia is paying Kirby Smart this season. Florida is also targeting Kiffin for its own vacancy, and Ole Miss is trying to keep him in Oxford.
Ole Miss will make an announcement about Kiffin’s future on Saturday, the day after Ole Miss plays rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Black Friday. The Rebels are 10–1 this season, and they are No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings, meaning they are likely to make this year’s 12-team field, even if they lose to the Bulldogs.
Kelly is one of four SEC coaches to be fired this season—25% of the 16-team conference. Kiffin leaving Ole Miss would mean at least five SEC head-coaching changes this year, pending any further moves.
