According to a report by Pete Nakos of On3.com, Louisiana State University (LSU) has committed over $200 million to hire football coach Lane Kiffin, men’s basketball coach Will Wade, and their respective coaching staffs. This figure includes the costs of firing previous coaches and the salaries of the new hires.

This spending comes after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry wrote an op-ed in 2025 arguing for change to fix a “broken” college athletics system that saw numerous universities commit “unreasonable spending” on coaches and their respective staffs.

Since October 2025, the Tigers’ athletic department fired head football coach Brian Kelly and recently parted ways with Matt McMahon. Firing Kelly will cost the school $54 million, while the termination of McMahon's contract, with three years remaining, will cost over $8 million.

Under new athletic director Verge Ausberry, the public university is spending at an unprecedented rate. Kiffin landed a seven-year, $91 million contract, with LSU also paying the College Football Playoff bonuses he earned while with the Rebels.

Kiffin signed a seven-year deal for $91 million, with LSU also paying the College Football Playoff bonuses. The Tigers also boast one of the largest and most expensive coaching staffs in college football, with an NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) budget to match and that came with $40 million spent in the transfer portal.

LSU also paid $7 million to buy out Kiffin ($3 million) and Wade ($4 million) from their previous gigs. Wade’s new deal, worth $30 million over seven years, is one of the biggest contracts in college basketball, and he is reportedly expected to have a $12 million roster budget for the men’s basketball team next season.

Governor Landry, who previously criticized excessive spending in college athletics, endorsed the hiring of Wade. This occurred just months after he expressed concerns about the high costs at universities.

Governor Jeff Landry tweeted: "Excited to welcome Coach Wade back where he belongs— home in Louisiana! It’s time to BOOT UP!"

The total investment of over $200 million in two men's college teams has generated criticism and questions about the financial sustainability and priorities of the university.

This level of spending contrasts with Governor Landry's previous statements about the need to control spending in college athletics, which has sparked debate and concern among observers.