Short answer: LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly in October 2025, and Frank Wilson was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. The athletic department and university subsequently reorganized leadership, with thoughts of a broader coaching search underway. Context and details

• What happened: After a disappointing 2025 season, LSU announced the separation with Brian Kelly, effective immediately, following a home loss that contributed to a poor record and diminished postseason prospects. Associate head coach Frank Wilson was appointed interim head coach for the final four games of the regular season.

• Leadership changes: LSU’s athletic director Scott Woodward also left the program in the days following Kelly’s firing, signaling a broader administrative shakeup alongside the football program’s leadership change. The university indicated continued operations and a focus on stability during the transition.

• Public statements and reception: Coverage noted the mid-season firing as part of a wider coaching carousel trend and highlighted the sizable buyout associated with Kelly’s contract, which factored into the decision-making process. Brian Kelly later spoke publicly, reflecting on the journey and the program’s unmet expectations.

• Current status (as of late 2025): Interim coach Frank Wilson remained at the helm for the remainder of the 2025 season, with LSU continuing to explore a long-term coaching solution and potential candidates into 2026.

Key takeaways

• LSU ended Brian Kelly’s tenure mid-season in 2025 due to performance, despite a strong early record in his tenure, and moved to an interim leadership under Frank Wilson.

• The coaching change coincided with administrative shakeups, including the departure of athletic director Scott Woodward, signaling a broader rebuilding effort for LSU football and athletics.

• The situation generated extensive discussion about buyouts, program direction, and potential head-coaching candidates for 2026 and beyond.