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Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly reportedly isn't going quietly after he was axed by the college last month.
Kelly was fired on October 26 in the midst of the fourth season of a 10-year, $95million contract following the Tigers' nightmare start to the college football campaign.
Despite his exit from Baton Rouge, Kelly is owed a reported eye-watering $54million buyout under the terms of his contract - and he intends to hold LSU to the terms.
Kelly has rejected two financial settlement offers from the university, according to a report from ESPN.
He and his lawyers have reportedly given a LSU officials a deadline of November 10 to confirm in writing that they will cough up the $54m that he's owed.
Former LSU athletic director Scott Woodward offered Kelly a lump-sum payment of $25million on the day he was fired, according to documents obtained by the Baton Rouge Advocate.
Former LSU football coach Brian Kelly has turned down two settlement offers from the school
LSU AD Scott Woodward (L) is said to have offered Kelly a payment of $25m the day he was fired, before that offer was later increased to $30m
Woodard is said to have gone as far as to offer to remove the mitigation language in Kelly's contract, which would have reduced the buyout amount if he coached again, to convince the coach to take the deal.
LSU executive deputy athletic director Julie Comer reportedly then increased the initial settlement offer to $30m in two payments, yet Kelly rejected both, the documents state.
His attorneys said in a letter to new LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and Board of Supervisors member John Carmouche that they wanted university officials to confirm by 6pm ET on Monday that it still intends to 'fulfil its contractual obligation' to pay their client the 'full liquidated damages.'
'Absent this written confirmation by that date, Coach Kelly will pursue all available legal remedies,' the letter added.
The coach's attorneys claimed in the letter that LSU officials previously confirmed he was fired without cause, which would entitle him to 90 percent of his remaining compensation.
If the two parties fail to agree a lesser amount, the school would owe him the full $54m in monthly payments through 2031, minus any future salary he receives as a coach.
Kelly's lawyers are understood to have told LSU he remains 'open to additional offers' if it intends to pay the full $54m he's owed.
Woodward stepped down from his position on October 30 after six years. The day prior, he was criticized by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry for handing Kelly such a generous contract.
Gov. Jeff Landry said he would rather President Trump hired the next coach than Woodward
'No, I can tell you right now Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach,' Landry said during a press conference at the state capitol just down the road from the school in Baton Rouge.
He jokingly added, 'Hell, I'll let Donald Trump do it before I let him do it.'
Kelly's $54 buyout is the second biggest in college football history. The largest, at $77m, belongs to former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.
Fisher was also hired to coach the Aggies by none other than Woodward when he helmed that school's athletic department.
