Brian Kelly is set to receive a staggering $54m payout after being sacked as LSU head coach, the latest in a series of multimillion-dollar firings in college football. Kelly, 64, was dismissed on Sunday after the Tigers suffered a heavy home defeat to Texas A&M, dropping them out of the AP top 25. He was in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100m contract.
Under the terms of his deal, LSU owes Kelly 90% of the remaining balance if he is fired without cause, amounting to around $54m. Although the contract includes a 'duty to mitigate' clause requiring him to seek alternative employment, it is unlikely another top programme will hire him given his 31-14 record at LSU. The school will probably continue paying him $800,000 monthly through 2031.
Kelly's payout is part of a broader trend of huge severance packages for fired coaches. Earlier this month, Penn State agreed to pay James Franklin $49m to leave, while Florida is paying Billy Napier $21m after his dismissal. So far this season, 10 coaches have been fired, with schools owing a total of $169m in buyouts.
The escalation in payouts reflects the growing commercialisation of college athletics, where coaches are treated as high-earning executives. Two years ago, Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher a record $77m after firing him. Georgia would owe Kirby Smart $105m if they sacked him now. Critics argue the money could be better spent on scholarships or supporting non-revenue sports.
