Former LSU coach Brian Kelly sues over $54 million buyout

BATON ROUGE, La. (WVUE) - Two weeks after his firing, former LSU coach Brian Kelly has filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that he was terminated without cause and is owed his full buyout of about $54 million through 2031.

The lawsuit was first reported on Tuesday and officially filed Wednesday (11/12) morning.

Kelly’s 10-year, $95 million contract calls for 90% of his remaining pay if he is dismissed without cause, paid in monthly installments.

LSU had reportedly explored reduced lump-sum settlements of $25 million and $30 million, but no agreement was reached.

According to court documents, Kelly’s attorneys notified new athletic director Verge Ausberry on Nov. 5 that Kelly expected LSU to pay “full liquidated damages.” The Advocate reported that Kelly rejected settlement offers made by then-athletic director Scott Woodward and by executive deputy AD Julie Cromer.

Kelly imposed a 5 p.m. deadline on Mon., Nov. 10, for written confirmation of the firing terms. When that deadline passed, he filed suit asking a judge to confirm his termination was without cause and enforce the buyout, according to a copy of the filing.

The petition says LSU representatives told Kelly’s side Monday that he had not been “formally terminated” and that the school was considering firing him for cause.

Kelly’s filing disputes LSU’s positions and quotes his representatives as stating he disagreed that he hadn’t been terminated, that Woodward lacked authority, and that “there were any grounds for termination with cause.”

The suit notes Kelly never received written notice of a for-cause termination within the contract’s seven-day window, as required.

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The suit also claims LSU said Woodward did not have “the authority to terminate Coach Kelly and/or make settlement offers to him.” Woodward and LSU parted ways Oct. 30 after public criticism from Gov. Jeff Landry over major contracts.

Kelly, 64, was fired Oct. 26, the day after LSU’s 49–25 loss to Texas A&M. He went 34–14 in four seasons, with three straight bowl wins and an SEC Championship Game appearance in 2022.

Interim coach Frank Wilson has led the Tigers since. LSU fell to 5–4 with a 20–9 loss at Alabama and hosts Arkansas this weekend.

Public records previously obtained by WAFB show Woodward’s inbox flooded with emails from fans and donors urging a change immediately after the Texas A&M game. Kelly emailed administrators confirming his termination and said he was “open” to discussing a settlement.

If LSU prevails on a for-cause claim, the school would not owe the full buyout. If the termination stands as without cause, LSU could still pay less over time through mitigation if Kelly takes another football job, as outlined in his contract.

LSU has not responded to Fox 8’s questions about Kelly’s firing or the cause.

New Orleans based attorney and sports agent Carlos Hornbrook said the dispute between LSU is a financial play and he expects a settlement.

“It’s almost like playing a game of chess. Where, how much money are you going to be able to distract for your client versus how much you’re going to leave on the table,” he said.

Metairie based attorney and sports agent Dante Cortello said he expects the public and coaching candidates to learn more if the cases progresses.

“It’s a situation where if you’re a fan of the team, you probably don’t want to see this type of thing happening where a coach that was just let go is now immediately in the litigation,” he said.

Kelly’s $54 million buyout is the second-largest in college football history, behind only Jimbo Fisher.

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