LSU’s newly appointed president, Tate Rousse, reversed course on a key leadership decision less than 24 hours after making it, creating further turmoil within the university’s athletic program as it searches for a new football coach.Rousse initially removed the “interim” tag from athletic director Brad Ausberry on Tuesday, citing a need for stability during the coaching search, only to backtrack Wednesday amid apparent internal disagreement.
The rapid shift underscores a chaotic period for LSU following the October 26 firing of head football coach Brian Kelly after a 5-3 start to the season. The university now faces a $54 million buyout for Kelly, and the ongoing instability at the administrative level threatens to deter potential coaching candidates. The situation impacts not only the future of LSU football but also the university’s reputation and its ability to attract top talent.
Rousse’s initial decision to fully empower Ausberry stemmed from his belief that “instability is not healthy” when attempting to hire a new coach.Though, the speedy reversal suggests a lack of consensus among LSU’s leadership-including the governor, the university president, and the athletic director-regarding the direction of the program.
Ausberry, a 24-year veteran of the LSU athletic department, had been serving as interim athletic director. Prior to Tuesday, he held positions including administrator for football, gymnastics, and women’s basketball, and executive deputy director of athletics since 2019. He is now tasked with leading the search for Kelly’s replacement despite the surrounding uncertainty.
