Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly shared his first statement on Thursday, Nov. 6, since being fired nearly two weeks ago.
Kelly was fired midway through his fourth season with the Tigers on Oct. 26 following LSU’s 49-25 loss to Texas A&M at home.
The move has sent a shockwave through LSU athletics in the aftermath, which also parted ways with athletic director Scott Woodward. LSU president Wade Rousse, who was named as the university’s next leader on Nov. 4, then named Verge Ausberry the Tigers’ permanent athletic director after serving in an interim role for a few days.
‘As everyone heads on their way to see the Tigers play, I wish Coach (Frank) Wilson, the coaches and our players the best this weekend,’ Kelly wrote on social media. ‘I know they will do their best for themselves and for LSU. We will be watching and cheering for you.
‘This journey may have ended, but it’s a journey that will stay with me and my family forever.’
Kelly had never been fired as a college head coach before. The 64-year-old coach led Division II Grand Valley State to back-to-back national championships before moving to Central Michigan, where he finished 9-4 in his last season.
Kelly then took over at Cincinnati and led the Bearcats to back-to-back New Year’s Six bowls in 2008-09. He then went 92-39 at Notre Dame and won double-digit games in his final five seasons there.
Kelly couldn’t quite bring the same success to Baton Rouge, though, with the Tigers failing to finish ranked in the top 10 in his first three seasons with the program. LSU’s leaders said they expect to reach the College Football Playoff every season with the expanded 12-team bracket, and that wasn’t going to happen in 2025 after the Tigers’ third loss, which ultimately led to Kelly’s exit.
Each of the three coaches at LSU before Kelly – Nick Saban, Les Miles and Ed Orgeron – won national titles with the program. Kelly went 34-14 during his time with the program.
‘The losses will always hurt, but I will remember all of the wins,’ Kelly wrote.