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After relieving head football coach Brian Kelly of his duties, attorneys representing the coach say LSU's slow movement on formalizing his firing have made it hard for him to find new job opportunities.
While Kelly is no longer in charge of the Tigers' football program, ESPN has revealed that lawyers for the coach claim he has yet to be 'formally terminated'.
Kelly's attorneys say that due to the lack of an official decision, it has 'made it nearly impossible' for the 64-year-old to land a new coaching job.
'As you know, there is absolutely no basis to LSU's contrived positions that Coach Kelly was not terminated or that cause existed for such termination,' the letter stated, per ESPN.
'LSU's conduct, including its failure to confirm that Coach Kelly was terminated without cause and its unsupported allegations of misconduct on the part of Coach Kelly, has made it nearly impossible for Coach Kelly to secure other football-related employment.
'LSU's conduct continues to harm Coach Kelly, particularly during this critical hiring period.'
Attorneys representing Brian Kelly say LSU's lack of formal firing has stalled his job search
Kelly was relieved of duty on October 26, but he claims he's yet to be formally fired
This letter was sent on to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and school board of supervisors member John Carmouche on November 18.
It comes amid the school trying to avoid having to pay the full $54million of a buyout for Kelly's contract.
In the letter, lawyers say Kelly 'reserves all rights to seek any and all damages to the fullest extent permitted by law' for any interference in a potential job candidacy.
Kelly was let go on October 26 after the Tigers lost to rivals Texas A&M. At the time, athletic director Scott Woodward said this was due to performance-related reasons.
Days later, Woodward himself would be out of a job after being publicly ridiculed by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry - who bluntly said Woodward wouldn't be hiring the next coach.
Kelly's attorneys were told AD Scott Woodward (L) didn't have authority to fire him
Woodward was eventually replaced after being mocked by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry
Earlier this month, Kelly's attorneys filed a lawsuit alleging LSU told his legal team that Woodward didn't have the authority to fire the coach - adding that Kelly hadn't yet been 'formally terminated'.
Moreover, the school claimed to be firing the Massachusetts native coach 'for cause' - which would impact the buyout he'd be set to receive.
Kelly's lawsuit is seeking a declaratory judgement from a Louisiana state judge which would rule that he had been fired without cause and granting him the full $54million.
After this was filed, the LSU board of supervisors voted to authorize university president Wade Rousse to deliver a formal notice of termination to Kelly.
