LSU formally terminates former coach Brian Kelly without cause, clearing way for full buyout

LSU informed former coach Brian Kelly on Wednesday that he has been terminated without cause, clearing the way for him to receive the full $53 million buyout of his contract.

The letter from new LSU president Wade Rousse, obtained by The Athletic, says the school “will pay liquidated damages as required under the Agreement.”

The letter also says Kelly is obligated “to make good-faith, reasonable, and sustained efforts to obtain qualifying employment for as long as liquidated damages are due.”

Kelly’s attorney, Robert Fumerton from the New York-based law firm Skadden, sent two letters to LSU leadership last week. One said that LSU’s handling of the coach’s firing had interfered with his ability to seek a new job in football, and another asked for written confirmation of Kelly’s termination without cause.

The first letter said LSU had raised “unsupported allegations of misconduct” by the 64-year-old coach. LSU fired Kelly on Oct. 26, eight games into his fourth season as coach. Two weeks later, he filed a claim in a Louisiana court, asking a judge to confirm that the school fired him without cause and that he was owed the full remaining value of his contract.

According to the lawsuit, LSU’s representatives informed Kelly’s representatives on a call that the former coach had not been formally terminated when the school announced a coaching change Oct. 26 and that grounds for termination with cause existed. If LSU were to have terminated Kelly with cause, it would not have had to pay his full buyout.

Last Friday, LSU’s board voted to allow Rousse to formally terminate Kelly. With Thursday’s notification, that is now official.

Sources with knowledge of the lawsuit said it will be withdrawn on Monday.

Kelly left Notre Dame after the 2021 season to become LSU’s coach and was given a 10-year, $95 million contract. Kelly was 34-14 in three-plus seasons as Tigers coach.