Louisiana State University has acknowledged that former head football coach Brian Kelly was terminated without cause — a pivotal admission that positions the school to pay the full liquidated damages at the center of Kelly’s lawsuit, according to a letter from the university president obtained by Law360. The move brings a dramatic turn in a high-profile contract dispute that has followed LSU like a long shadow since Kelly’s abrupt departure.
LSU Confirms Its Obligations
In a Wednesday letter addressed directly to Kelly, LSU President Wade Rousse said the university intends to honor the terms laid out in the coach’s employment agreement. Rousse emphasized that Kelly must pursue “qualified football-related employment” to help mitigate the damages LSU is required to pay, adding a reminder that Kelly must keep thorough records of his job-search efforts.
The letter — stamped with the university president’s official seal — leaves no ambiguity. Rousse wrote, “For the avoidance of doubt, LSU expects you to maintain reasonable documentation of your job-search efforts.”
