The Baton Rouge Shake-Up: LSU's Athletic Department Faces a Whirlwind of Departures

Well, this is certainly a turn of events, isn't it? Just when you thought the dust might begin to settle in Baton Rouge, after LSU made the somewhat surprising — or perhaps, inevitable, depending on who you asked — decision to part ways with football coach Brian Kelly, another seismic tremor hit the university's athletic department. Yes, indeed. Just four days after that initial bombshell, Athletic Director Scott Woodward, the very man who orchestrated Kelly’s rather splashy arrival from Notre Dame, has reportedly thrown in the towel himself. Talk about a swift succession of shocks.

You see, Woodward’s departure isn't just another administrative shuffle; it feels, honestly, like a significant turning point. He’s been a powerhouse, really, known for making those big, audacious hires that often define an athletic program. He brought Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M, then Chris Petersen to Washington, and, of course, Brian Kelly to LSU in 2021. And what a hiring it was, remember? A ten-year, nearly $100 million deal that, for all its controversy and questions, certainly signaled LSU’s ambition, its sheer will to win.

But then, things got… complicated. Kelly, for his part, did manage to lead the Tigers to a respectable 34-18 record during his tenure, even snagging an SEC West title in 2022. This past season, they finished 9-3, with a 5-3 conference record — decent, certainly, but perhaps not the earth-shattering dominance some had envisioned, especially given the investment. Yet, the on-field performance, one could argue, was only part of the story. Lingering off-field concerns, including an NCAA investigation into potential violations related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, as well as those rather pesky academic eligibility questions for some players, cast a shadow. It all accumulated, didn't it?

And so, with Kelly gone, the spotlight inevitably swung back to Woodward. Was his position becoming untenable? Was there pressure, perhaps from the university brass, or even from within, to make a clean break? We can only speculate, but his resignation so closely following Kelly’s firing suggests, well, a connection that goes beyond mere coincidence. It points to a deeper unraveling, perhaps a strategic reset that demanded a fresh pair of eyes at the top.

For now, LSU Deputy AD Stephanie Rempe is stepping into the interim role, tasked with steering the ship through these turbulent waters. And turbulent they are. The university is currently appealing various penalties handed down by the NCAA concerning its basketball program under former coach Will Wade and, yes, some NIL issues that apparently arose during Kelly’s watch. It's a delicate situation, truly, one that requires steady hands and, perhaps, a new vision.

Scott Woodward’s exit closes a chapter, undoubtedly, for LSU athletics. He arrived with a reputation for bold moves, and he certainly lived up to it, for better or worse. But now, as the Tigers search for both a new football coach and a permanent athletic director, the immediate future in Baton Rouge feels less like a roar and more like a whispered question: What’s next, and who will be the one to answer it?