LSU writer sends Tigers’ football coaching search a strong warning on Jimmy Sexton and Trace Armstrong
The LSU Tigers are off to a shaky start in their search for a Brian Kelly replacement. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry undermined LSU AD Scott Woodward in a wild turn of events on Wednesday, saying the U.S. President was more likely to make the hiring over Woodward. He also took aim at the agent who helped put together Kelly’s deal.
More on that later.
After spending $54 million on paying Kelly not to coach, many Tiger fans are hoping that the program doesn’t dish out another gaudy contract offer to a splashy big name. They may not have a choice, though.
As TigerBait’s Mike Scarborough notes, the chances of that happening aren’t high, considering the school will be dealing with two of the sport’s notorious super agents: Jimmy Sexton and Trace Armstrong.
“Of the Top-6 candidates that the LSU fan base would want to replace Brian Kelly, Four are represented by Jimmy Sexton, Two by Trace Armstrong,” Scarborough wrote.
“So, don’t think that whomever makes the final decision at LSU on who gets hired is going to be some magical smarty-pants. They aren’t going to be able to get around an 8 figure deal (plus incentives) annually with 8-10 years guaranteed.”
Jon Sumrall, Lane Kiffin, and Urban Meyer are some of the notable clients Sexton represents, as is Kelly, the man whose contract Landry took aim at.
Meanwhile, James Franklin is one of Armstrong’s major clients. Franklin is strongly rumored to land with the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Negotiating with a super agent like Sexton or Armstrong likely means LSU will be in the same position with their next head coach as they were with Kelly. Simply put, they need to find a better culture fit than Kelly was. Football-wise, it wasn’t a bad hire, on paper.
Either way, another massive payday is coming, whether they get the right guy or misfire again.
Sexton will probably ensure it. He probably didn’t like Landry’s comments, but he’ll probably profit from them somehow.
