LSU president reportingly wavering on Verge Ausberry as permanent athletic director

LSU President Wade Rousse appeared to promote Verge Ausberry to full-time athletic director. But now a full day later, he seems to be wavering on the decision.

In an interview with The Louisiana Illuminator on Wednesday Rousse said that his comments about removing Ausberry’s interim tag may have been premature. “I can’t make a very good decision after being on the job for eight hours,” Rousse said. “I don’t know what permanent means versus removing the interim.”

This comes at a critical time for LSU, who is in the midst or trying to make their biggest football coaching hire to date, along with the fall out from Brian Kelly's $54 million buyout. 

I asked incoming #LSU President Wade Rousse on decision to name Verge Ausberry the permanent AD. “I'll remove the interim [title] and then we'll assess the situation. I can't make a very good decision after being on that on the job for eight hours…”

Ausberry, a former LSU linebacker and veteran administrator, was named interim athletic director following Scott Woodward’s mutual departure with the university last week. He had been given full authority by the Board of Supervisors to oversee LSU’s football coaching search after Woodward’s exit.

Woodward’s resignation came amid tension with Gov. Jeff Landry, who criticized for decisions surrounding Kelly's tenure. Landry had publicly opposed allowing Woodward to select Kelly’s replacement.

Rousse, who was appointed Tuesday as LSU’s new president, told TLI that continuity remains important for the football program as it searches for its next head coach. “When you’re trying to hire a coach,” Rousse said, “instability is not healthy.”

The uncertainty surrounding Ausberry’s status adds another twist to LSU’s roller coaster week of leadership changes.

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