Tag: Scott Woodward

Brian Kelly wants to keep Alabama as an annual opponent in future SEC scheduling

Brian Kelly said that both he and AD Scott Woodward want Alabama to remain an annual rival.

College football is set for some drastic changes in 2024, and that’s especially true in the SEC.

Oklahoma and Texas are joining the league, meaning the end of the division format that has existed since 1992. Schedules have been announced for next season, but the format beyond 2024 is yet to be determined.

LSU prepares to face Alabama on the road this weekend in a pivotal SEC West matchup, and it could potentially be the last matchup between the two in Tuscaloosa for a while. Though they will meet at Tiger Stadium in 2024, future contests are not a guarantee.

However, on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said that both he and athletics director [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] wish to keep the Crimson Tide as an annual opponent.

“I think we’re going to have a say in what that scheduling looks like in terms of Alabama against LSU,” Kelly said, per Nick Kelly of the Tuscaloosa News. “I think commissioner (Greg) Sankey has given us the opportunity to talk about the team or teams that we want to keep on our schedule. Each school I think has those natural rivalries, and certainly, in talking to Scott Woodward, our AD, he and I both would be in agreement that LSU-Alabama is a game that we would like to see played every year.”

Only time will tell how the scheduling format ultimately looks, but it’s clear LSU is fighting to keep this annual rivalry alive.

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Jay Johnson named National Coach of the Year by D1Baseball

Jay Johnson led the Tigers to their seventh national title in his second season on the bayou.

After leading the LSU baseball team to its seventh national championship in program history, coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] is taking home some personal accolades, as well.

Johnson was named the National Coach of the Year by D1Baseball on Tuesday. That marked the third such honor he’s received this year as he was also named Coach of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association.

“The thing about Jay is that he never, ever backed down from the expectations that were put on these guys,” LSU athletics director [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] said in a release from D1Baseball. “He accepted it, and he embraced it. He loved the expectations, and he certainly loved the pressure. In the end, that’s just what winners do.”

In his second season after arriving from Arizona, Johnson led LSU to its first College World Series appearance and 50-win season since 2017. The Tigers managed to avenge their CWS final loss from that year, beating Florida in three games to win the first national title in Johnson’s coaching career.

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A complete timeline of the 2022-23 LSU athletic year

Here’s a timeline of LSU’s 2022-23 athletic year that featured national titles from baseball and women’s basketball.

With baseball season over, LSU’s 2022-23 athletic year is done. The seasons have come and gone, and now we await the next round in August.

Before the new year gets underway, it’s time to take a look back at the timeline of the last year. From August to June, these were some of the athletic calendar’s most memorable moments.

It was a good year for LSU sports. Football won 10 games, baseball and women’s basketball won national titles and gymnastics nearly went all the way too.

Without wasting any more time, let’s jump right into the year that was.

Jay Johnson discusses support for LSU baseball within athletic department

Here’s what Jay Johnson said about the support he’s received from LSU’s athletic department.

A key asset of any college athletic department is alignment between coaches and administrators.

[autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag], fresh off his first national championship with LSU, discusses the support he’s received from the school.

“I sat in front of them and wanted this worse than anything else in the world and believe that I could do it, that I could do it with this group,” Johnson said, per On3.

Johnson noted that athletic director [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] has been involved with the building of the program too.

Johnson’s comments mirror similar things we’ve heard from coaches like [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag]. With its own hires in place, LSU’s current administration is committed to its programs.

Look no further than school president [autotag]William Tate[/autotag] appearing and being vocal at most of LSU’s major sporting events.

The alignment bodes well for LSU’s future and the expectations will remain high for Johnson’s program, despite next year being a rebuilding one.

However, rebuilding at LSU baseball is a relative term.

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LSU’s 2 national titles lead to 9th-place finish in Directors’ Cup

It’s LSU’s highest Director’s Cup finish since 2009 and second-highest of all time.

With national championships in women’s basketball and baseball, as well as top-10 finishes in gymnastics, beach volleyball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, LSU finished No. 9 in the final Directors’ Cup standings for the 2022-23 academic year.

It’s the school’s highest finish since 2009 and second-highest of all time behind 2008 when it finished eighth.

Stanford ultimately won the Cup, which is given to the top overall athletics department in the country. The Tigers edged out USC, which rounds out the top 10. LSU ranks fourth among SEC schools behind Florida, Tennessee and Georgia.

Eight SEC schools finished in the top-25 overall, which was the most of any conference.

LSU has now won 51 total national championships with this year’s additions, and it’s the 11th time the Tigers have captured two in the same year. LSU will hope to add to that total under [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag], whose tenure as athletics director has been very successful so far.

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AD Scott Woodward wants LSU to continue tough out-of-conference scheduling

Conference expansion and a potential nine-game SEC schedule doesn’t impact Woodward’s scheduling philosophy.

Scott Woodward’s in Destin, Florida, for the annual SEC spring meetings.

He went on Finebaum to discuss some issues facing the conference, and when it comes to scheduling, he said he wants to continue to see tough out-of-conference games on the slate. 

With the expanded playoff on the way, Woodward noted that programs could be given even more leeway if they boast a tougher strength of schedule.

10-2 and 9-3 teams could comfortably slide into a 12-team field with the right wins and losses.

“I just think there’s better and more opportunity and there’s not like this case where if you lose a game you’re out,” Woodward said. “You can lose a game or two and then still be very competitive and good at the end and still get in the playoffs.”

Woodward has made it a point to schedule these games during his time at LSU.

In 2021, LSU announced a matchup with USC to open the 2024 season. Earlier this year, LSU announced a plan to kick off the 2027 season against Houston at NRG Stadium. Woodward also scheduled games against Utah, but those aren’t slated until 2031 and 2032.

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COLUMN: LSU women’s basketball is going to be here a long time

LSU and Kim Mulkey aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

On Feb. 13, following LSU’s loss to South Carolina, I wrote, “LSU isn’t a contender.”

Not two months later, I was proven wrong along with a whole bunch of talking heads. [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag], [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and crew did the thing.

I wrote, “LSU looks poised to be a threat in the SEC for several years, it’s just not there yet.”

After that loss, Mulkey acknowledged LSU wasn’t there yet either. She said it was South Carolina and then everyone else.

On Sunday, it was LSU and then everyone else. The Tigers left no doubts, scoring 102 and winning by 17. This is the best team in the country.

When Mulkey was hired in 2021, LSU had only won nine games the year prior, hadn’t won a tournament game since 2014 and hadn’t been to the Final Four since 2008.

There are much longer Final Four droughts than the one LSU just ended, but it was a program in need of revival.

Mulkey, whose demeanor and presence sometimes are sometimes more reminiscent of a revival preacher than a basketball coach, was just the woman to bring LSU back to life.

Mulkey was no stranger to Louisiana or LSU. She grew up in Louisiana and played college ball at Louisiana Tech.

And you know the running joke. Haven’t you heard? Her son played baseball at LSU. If Mulkey didn’t have a game of her own to coach, ESPN was sure to give her screen time in those Alex Box Stadium bleachers.

Mulkey didn’t take the job because it was easy. She could have stayed at Baylor, where she was a top-two seed in the tournament every year for the last 10 years.

A coach approaching 60 didn’t have to jump ship to take on a rebuild. Mulkey knew LSU could be years away from reaching the heights she did at Baylor.

None of that mattered. She wanted to come home. She wanted to bring LSU a championship. It’s what she promised when she first appeared in the PMAC.

And now, it’s a promise delivered.

Mulkey rebuilt LSU at a rapid pace. LSU went from mediocre to national title winner in less than two years and it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.

We haven’t seen the ceiling yet.

This team had nine new players. Most of them will be back and joined by a recruiting class even better than Mulkey’s first two.

LSU is no longer the upstart underdog. It’s a destination that’ll attract the sport’s top talent.

Women’s college basketball is a sport that’s been prone to create dynasties. Star coaches have been able to consolidate talent giving their programs staying power.

That’s the path LSU is on right now.

Maintaining excellence is a whole different ball game, but you get the sense this team is going to remain hungry. Mulkey squads always play like they have something to prove.

But South Carolina is going to be hungry next year too, as is Iowa. The star players that gave LSU a tough time this year will be back for more.

LSU, with all of its flare and style, isn’t going anywhere either.

You might love them, you might hate them, but you’re going to get used to watching them.

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What to know before LSU’s Final Four showdown with Virginia Tech

Here’s what you need to know before LSU squares off with the Hokies.

For the first time since 2008, LSU has the opportunity to compete for a national title.

[autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] marched LSU to the Final Four in Year 2. With a transfer-heavy rebuild that featured the additions of [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexis Morris[/autotag] among others, LSU has ascended to be one of the nation’s premier teams.

It won’t come as a surprise to those familiar with Mulkey’s work. It happened fast, but this is right where LSU was supposed to be.

The Tigers will face Virginia Tech, a 31-4 No. 1 seed. LSU, a three-seed, is the lowest remaining seed left.

But let’s not waste any more time. Here’s a look at what LSU faces in Dallas and what lies ahead on the road to a title.

A full look at Brian Kelly’s updated staff entering 2023 season

Here’s who Kelly has on staff heading into Year 2.

Brian Kelly is entering his second year at LSU.

Last year, he was putting together a staff from scratch with few holdovers from the [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag] era. It’s a different story this year with most of the staff returning intact. There isn’t a single on-field coach who left the program.

Notably, both coordinators are back. Paired with the returning personnel, that bodes well for LSU in 2023. The biggest shakeup came on special teams with [autotag]Brian Polian[/autotag] moving into more of a general manager-type role.

Here’s a look at who’s in the building this year on the football side and administrative side.

What to make of Matt McMahon’s tough first year at LSU

Matt McMahon’s first year at LSU is done. Where do the Tigers go from here?

The NCAA Tournament is set to begin soon, and LSU won’t be in it.

That’s different from these last few years. With [autotag]Will Wade[/autotag], aside from the COVID year, LSU fans got used to watching basketball in March.

The Tigers have made the last three NCAA Tournaments.

LSU never made a special run at a Final Four, though there was a Sweet 16 appearance. But after several years of struggles, the tournament appearances were enough to satisfy LSU fans in an ever improving SEC.

There was even an SEC title throw in there too.

Stars from those teams have now found success in the NBA, whether it be [autotag]Naz Reid[/autotag] or [autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag].

LSU finished dead last in the SEC this year. Wade was let go a year ago after LSU received a notice of allegations and in the wake of it, LSU basketball has tripped, stumbled and fallen.

Several players from Wade’s team transferred out. At one point, LSU was without any scholarship player on the roster. LSU hired [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] from Murray State and he recouped some of the losses. Most notably, he convinced guard [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] to return.

McMahon brought a number of his players from a good Murray State team too, along with a couple of blue-chip recruits.

Things didn’t look that bad anymore. The team wasn’t overflowing with talent but it had experienced players who had won at a high level. LSU started 5-0 and moved to 12-1. LSU finished off December with a win over No. 9 ranked Arkansas.

Following the Arkansas win, fans celebrated McMahon’s quick turnaround. The group had gelled fast, and LSU was going to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

In the next game, the Tigers put up a fight on the road at Kentucky. Not a win, but more evidence the program was trending up and worthy of conference-wide attention.

Then it started to crumble. LSU lost by seven on the road to a Texas A&M team that turned out to be pretty good. Still not the end of the world. Then LSU lost again, to a Florida team that frankly, wasn’t that good.

LSU then lost again and again and again. A team that was 12-1 was 12-15 and any hope for postseason play had long disappeared.

You could chalk that 12-1 start up to mostly weak opponents. But Arkansas is No. 19 in KenPom, and the Tigers beat a Wake Forest team that won 19 games.

LSU’s lone loss in that stretch was by two points to a Kansas State team that’s 23-9. It really doesn’t make sense. But that’s how Year 1s are sometimes. This was a team with a new coach at a new place that’s never played together before.

This season is now in the rearview mirror. I don’t want to get caught up on diagnosing every issue.

Where does LSU go from here?

There’s sure to be plenty of turnover again. [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], LSU’s best player, will be gone. He was responsible for so much of LSU’s production this year.

Replacing him in a normal situation will be tough. Replacing him in a rebuild, even tougher.

McMahon was hired as a developmental guy. [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] didn’t turn to the proven Power Five winner like he did with football and baseball. With McMahon, Woodward’s playing the long game and the contract McMahon received reflects that.

McMahon signed three four-stars last cycle: [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag] and [autotag]Shawn Phillips[/autotag]. That’s LSU’s future core. It’s pivotal that McMahon holds on to them.

If they leave, that’s when I’d start questioning if McMahon is right for this rebuild.

The pieces for improvement are here. You just have to believe McMahon is a guy capable of developing at LSU like he did at Murray State.

You don’t need elite recruiting classes to win in college basketball. Teams have made runs strictly on developing players.

McMahon added a slew of transfers last year and getting their veteran presence back would be nice, but LSU needs to mine talent in the portal, especially at the guard position.

LSU has a couple of top 200 recruits on their way in. [autotag]Corey Chest[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Williams[/autotag]. Based on how McMahon treated the freshmen this year, don’t expect a ton from them next year.

It’s too early to make big declarations on what the roster could look like. This is still a program in flux, and in this era, anything can happen.

This offseason, even more so than last, is critically important for McMahon and staff. Last year was excusable. Finishing last in the SEC again next year won’t be.

This is the new SEC. It doesn’t matter if you’re a football school. Athletic departments with money are expected to be relevant in basketball.

Fans want to see this program competing for conference titles once again.

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