LSU names Verge Ausberry interim athletic director after Scott Woodward’s departure

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU named Verge Ausberry as interim athletic director on Thursday, one day after the university and Scott Woodward mutually agreed to part ways.

Ausberry, a former LSU linebacker and longtime university administrator, will have full authority to lead the search for the Tigers’ next football coach, LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott Ballard said during a press conference.

“He has full authority to do so. That includes leading the search for our next head coach and hiring our next head coach,” said John Carmouche, chair of the LSU Athletic Committee.

Woodward’s departure ends his six-year tenure as athletic director. Board members declined to provide specific reasons for the mutual agreement but said it was reached after discussions between Woodward and the board.

Search committee formed

Ausberry announced he has formed a committee to find LSU’s next football coach. The committee includes Ballard, Carmouche, Ben Bordelon, E.J. Kuyper, and himself, with one additional member still being discussed.

“We have to hire the best football coach there is,” Ausberry said. “We are not going to let this program fail.”

The search process has already begun, Ausberry said, though no timeline was provided for hiring a new coach.

Background and experience

Ausberry is a Louisiana native who played linebacker at LSU from 1985-1989, starting for two years and leading the team in tackles twice. He played on two SEC championship teams during his career.

He began his administrative career at LSU as a graduate assistant in 1991, working in compliance and academics before advancing through various roles in the athletic department. Ausberry said he has been part of 18 national championships at LSU as an administrator.

“I know what hard work is. I know what it is to be a part of LSU,” Ausberry said. “LSU is not broken. LSU Athletic Department is not broken.”

Ausberry faced criticism in the aftermath of a 2020 USA Today investigation involving a domestic violence admission by LSU football player Drake Davis.

A third-party investigation found Ausberry mishandled 2018 text exchange with Davis, where Davis admitted being violent towards a woman. He did not turn the information over to the Title IX office.

He resigned from the LSU presidential search committee in the aftermath.

Ausberry did not respond to an interview request for this story.

Contract details

Board members said they are working on Woodward’s contract buyout, which could exceed $5 million in base salary. The buyout will be funded through self-generated athletic department funds or private donations, not state dollars, Carmouche said.

The board has not set a timeline for naming a permanent athletic director, with the focus remaining on finding a new football coach.

LSU is expected to name a new university president on Tuesday, though board members said the coaching search will continue regardless of that timeline.

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