LSU reportingly makes Verge Ausberry permanent athletic director

LSU is removing the interim tag from Verge Ausberry and naming him the school’s next athletic director, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Tuesday. 

The move comes on the same day newly elected university president Wade Rousse officially took office. Rousse made the decision to promote Ausberry, a longtime LSU administrator and former Tigers linebacker who has been connected to the university for more than three decades. A formal announcement is expected later this week. 

Ausberry was appointed interim athletic director last week after Scott Woodward and the school mutually agreed to part ways. He has been leading LSU’s search for a new football coach to replace Brian Kelly, who was fired last month following a 49-25 loss to Texas A&M in Baton Rouge.

Can confirm reports that LSU is promoting Verge Ausberry to the job as LSU's athletic director. New President Wade Rousse made the decision today, his first day in office.

Kelly was owed $54 million by the school after being dismissed. The total was reportedly negotiated to roughly half, according to reports. 

Last Friday, Ausberry told reporters he had “full authority” to conduct the coaching search and said a committee had already been formed to identify candidates. 

“I want our fan base to know one thing: LSU is not broken,” Ausberry said. “LSU’s athletic department is not broken. I think we have the best athletic department in the country.”

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