Attorneys representing Brian Kelly have alleged that LSU’s handling of the embattled coach’s buyout negotiations has become an obstacle for him to be hired elsewhere.
Kelly’s team sent a pair of letters last week to new LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and board of supervisors member John Carmouche, which accused the university of harming Kelly’s future employment opportunities by not confirming that he was fired without cause.
“As you know, there is absolutely no basis to LSU’s contrived positions that Coach Kelly was not terminated or that cause existed for such termination,” a letter sent Nov. 18 and obtained by multiple outlets said. “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.”
A follow-up letter dated Nov. 19 reportedly said Kelly would withdraw his lawsuit against the school if LSU would confirm in writing that he was fired without cause, meaning the decision had solely to do with the football team’s performance.
Kelly filed his suit in a Louisiana court earlier this month seeking confirmation that LSU fired him without cause and therefore owed him the rest of the money on his contract. His buyout was worth between $53-54 million when LSU dismissed him Oct. 26 after a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M.
That lawsuit said LSU informed Kelly he had not yet been “formally terminated” and that the school was planning to argue he would be fired for cause. But Kelly’s buyout clause includes offset language if he is able to land a new job, which could reduce some of the total LSU owes him.
LSU’s board on Friday voted in favor of allowing new university president Wade Rousse to formally terminate Kelly. LSU has not commented on the ongoing matter.
