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The Athletic: The Meddling of Scott Woodward
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:00 pm
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:00 pm
quote:
It’s not common for athletic directors to be so involved in football staff hires, but Woodward is different from most ADs. One of Woodward’s first big moves back in Baton Rouge was to push for Orgeron to hire Bo Pelini, a fiery former LSU assistant, to come back as defensive coordinator in 2020.
Kelly’s Tigers finished the 2023 season by playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, despite featuring three first-round picks on offense: Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. Kelly responded with more staff changes, especially on defense.
Woodward was again heavily involved in decisions that led to several coaches and staffers with LSU ties — some of whom had been swept out during the initial purge — being brought back after the 2023 season.
Among the most notable was senior associate AD Austin Thomas, a former personnel staffer under both Miles and Orgeron who had been bouncing around the SEC, from Oxford to Baton Rouge to Knoxville and then to College Station with Woodward. He was then brought back to LSU by Woodward to address recruiting shortcomings and the lack of in-state ties Kelly and his original staff had.
A former LSU staffer said Woodward often met with Thomas to discuss personnel and recruiting. Woodward would pop into a position coach’s office to go over specific recruits, which was baffling for coaches trying to focus on the week’s game planning and upcoming opponent.
“I have never been around an AD who was in the football office more than this guy,” said the former staffer who came to Baton Rouge when Kelly was hired but has since moved on.
The Athletic
13
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:04 pm to prplhze2000
Some people think he was a great AD. The reality is he was pretty terrible. His little bit of accomplishments he did have (w-bball and baseball) is completely overshadowed by enormous buyouts and the destruction of the LSU men's basketball program.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:05 pm to prplhze2000
quote:
A former LSU staffer said Woodward often met with Thomas to discuss personnel and recruiting. Woodward would pop into a position coach’s office to go over specific recruits, which was baffling for coaches trying to focus on the week’s game planning and upcoming opponent.
“I have never been around an AD who was in the football office more than this guy,” said the former staffer
Maybe I'm not getting it, but this doesn't seem egregious.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:10 pm to prplhze2000
He came in April 2019 to LSU. 2019 is not because of SW contrary to belief here.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:11 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Maybe I'm not getting it, but this doesn't seem egregious.
I mean do you like being micromanaged by your boss’ boss?
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:13 pm to prplhze2000
quote:
When the player, a former starter, decided he was going to transfer from LSU, he was informed by his position coaches that he would have a one-on-one meeting with Kelly to discuss why he wanted to leave. But Kelly never showed up to the meeting, according to the former player. Asked if he was surprised that Kelly’s tenure in Baton Rouge was cut short, the former player said no.
Wow.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:14 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Maybe I'm not getting it, but this doesn't seem egregious.
It sounds like huge PITA to get your job done properly.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:14 pm to prplhze2000
quote:
“I have never been around an AD who was in the football office more than this guy,” said the former staffer who came to Baton Rouge when Kelly was hired but has since moved on.
yikes
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:15 pm to moneyg
Sounds like Denbrock
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:23 pm to Contra
quote:
Some people think he was a great AD. The reality is he was pretty terrible. His little bit of accomplishments he did have (w-bball and baseball) is completely overshadowed by enormous buyouts and the destruction of the LSU men's basketball program.
There are really only two revenue producing sports: football and men's basketball. I wonder which sports should be best?
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:25 pm to cajuntiger1010
How many times was SW spotted in the locker room?
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:26 pm to prplhze2000
I dont blame him Woodward.
Kelly failed with that initial coaching staff.
BK's first full class (2023) was a complete dumpster fire. 18 of the 26 signees are no longer with the program. Only 2 (Weeks & Stamps) has played entire season as a starter and Stamps is no longer on the team.
Fast forward 18 months later, he's begging for 18-20 mil to spend on transfers because he doesn't have the depth/talent to compete.
Terrible effort, evaluation, and development.
Kelly failed with that initial coaching staff.
BK's first full class (2023) was a complete dumpster fire. 18 of the 26 signees are no longer with the program. Only 2 (Weeks & Stamps) has played entire season as a starter and Stamps is no longer on the team.
Fast forward 18 months later, he's begging for 18-20 mil to spend on transfers because he doesn't have the depth/talent to compete.
Terrible effort, evaluation, and development.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:28 pm to prplhze2000
So the article doesn’t say it outright, but if Woodward was behind bringing back Thomas, Raymond, and Baker… he may have mitigated a situation that had potential to be worse than it was 
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:29 pm to prplhze2000
This happened under O as well. He spoke plenty of times in his press conferences that Woodward would come check in with him about recruiting.
If Woodward played a role in scouting/recruiting players I would be concerned, but showing investment and attention to what you need to do get the top players at the highest revenue producing sport should not be frowned upon.
If Woodward played a role in scouting/recruiting players I would be concerned, but showing investment and attention to what you need to do get the top players at the highest revenue producing sport should not be frowned upon.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:31 pm to fightingtigers98
Does hiring Pelini to a 3 year deal over a zoom call considered frowned upon?
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:34 pm to fightingtigers98
Woodward brought it on himself.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:38 pm to TigerFanFromBama
BK was an abject failure. Many thanks to Scott Woodward.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:41 pm to Ingeniero
quote:quote:
A former LSU staffer said Woodward often met with Thomas to discuss personnel and recruiting. Woodward would pop into a position coach’s office to go over specific recruits, which was baffling for coaches trying to focus on the week’s game planning and upcoming opponent.
“I have never been around an AD who was in the football office more than this guy,” said the former staffer
Maybe I'm not getting it, but this doesn't seem egregious.
I'm with you. Maybe since he came with Kelly, he is not used to his boss being engaged at all.
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:43 pm to prplhze2000
quote:
One of Woodward’s first big moves back in Baton Rouge was to push for Orgeron to hire Bo Pelini
Is this actually true?
I’ve never heard of this until this week
The previous reports where that O wanted him and hired him without so much as an interview
Posted on 10/31/25 at 5:53 pm to Ingeniero
quote:
Maybe I'm not getting it, but this doesn't seem egregious.
No one likes to be micro managed by the big boss. You put people in place to do a job. If you don’t trust them to do it you shouldn’t have hired in the first place. This is shitty management no other way to slice it.
This post was edited on 10/31/25 at 5:55 pm
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