LSU AD Verge Ausberry Backs Lane Kiffin, Citing $40 Million Roster While Ripping Brian Kelly
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 14
LSU AD Verge Ausberry Backs Lane Kiffin, Citing $40 Million Roster While Ripping Brian Kelly
5 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14
Verge Ausberry said LSU needed a full reset after Brian Kelly, praising Lane Kiffin as a coach who will run the program, court donors and boosters, and engage fans directly.
USA Today quoted Ausberry contrasting Kiffin with his predecessor, saying LSU previously had "no feel" and "no connection" between the football program, the coach and supporters.
247Sports composite rankings underscore the criticism: Ed Orgeron averaged a 6.8 recruiting class rank at LSU, while Kelly averaged 8.75 and trended worse after his first class.
Kiffin arrives under scrutiny after remarks about Ole Miss's "segregated" feel drew backlash, but LSU's early NIL momentum includes a roster valued at roughly $40 million.
The comments frame LSU's bet that stronger booster ties and fundraising can restore an SEC recruiting edge, though Kiffin still faces pressure to turn that support into quick results.
Will Lane Kiffin's controversial style build an empire or prove more divisive than Brian Kelly's quiet detachment?
Is LSU's $145 million coaching shuffle a brilliant new model or the most expensive gamble in college football history?