Overview
- LSU’s Board of Supervisors voted to restore separate president and chancellor roles, selecting Wade Rousse as the system’s 29th president and James Dalton as executive vice president and chancellor, with one report citing a 12-1 vote.
- Under Rousse’s structure, athletics, external affairs and governmental affairs report to the president, while the flagship campus, AgCenter, health science centers and Pennington Biomedical report to the chancellor.
- On his first day, Rousse decided to remove Verge Ausberry’s interim tag, making him permanent athletic director; sources said a formal announcement will follow and no external AD search is planned.
- The moves follow the firing of football coach Brian Kelly and the departure of AD Scott Woodward, with LSU owing Kelly about $54 million through 2031, an amount the AP notes could be negotiated.
- Officials emphasized clear lines of authority to reassure coaching candidates, and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey welcomed Ausberry’s reported appointment as LSU proceeds with the football hire.