LSU head coach Brian Kelly runs off the field before a college football game between Ole Miss and LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. Ole Miss defeated LSU 24-19.

The brewing legal dispute between LSU and coach Brian Kelly has taken another turn.

In a letter obtained by ESPN sent from Kelly's representatives to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry and board of supervisors member John H. Carmouche on Nov. 18, his attorneys claimed that LSU's conduct has "made it nearly impossible" for him to land another coaching job.

Kelly's camp affirmed that he "reserves all rights to seek any and all damages to the fullest extent permitted by law," for the school's perceived interference in his job search.

"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, which was obtained by ESPN, reads. "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."

LSU initially fired Kelly in October, but the school claimed that former athletics director Scott Woodward, who was himself fired days later, did not have the authority to fire Kelly. It also reportedly sought to fire him for cause.

Last week, LSU gave new university president Wade Rousse authority to fire Kelly, though it's unclear whether the school is doing so for cause.

Kelly filed a legal petition in Louisiana seeking declaratory judgment against the school as it tries to avoid paying him his full buyout. According to the letter from Kelly's attorneys, LSU asked him to withdraw that petition. The letter indicated that Kelly would not do so unless he received written confirmation that the school intends to pay him his full buyout.

Whether Kelly is a candidate for any of the now nine open power conference head coaching jobs remains to be seen, but according to his attorneys, his candidacy for those jobs has been damaged by the uncertainty surrounding his exit from LSU.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Brian Kelly's attorneys say LSU has made it 'impossible' to find a job

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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