WWL's partners at TigerRag.com have confirmed that Joe Alleva is done as LSU's Director of Athletics.
Alleva's departure came about in an executive session of the LSU Board of Supervisors held Tuesday night.
This comes days after Alleva reinstated men's basketball coach Will Wade, whom Alleva suspended days before the basketball team began post-season play, amid reports of possible recruiting violations and an FBI investigation.
Wade was suspended for more than one month before meeting with university leadership. Tony Benford served as interim coach as LSU advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Michigan State.
Until recently, Alleva had enjoyed strong support from the board that serves as LSU’s governing body. The Board has awarded Alleva with multiple contract extensions during his tenure, most recently a one-year bump in 2015 that extended his deal until June 30, 2020.
According to his contract, LSU would owe Alleva a buyout in the event of his termination without cause. Alleva earned $525,000 in base salary under his current deal and $725,000 in certain annual compensation, according to payroll documentation.
Alleva would be entitled to 100 percent of the base salary he was scheduled to earn over the remainder of the contract. Per the agreement, LSU would pay a lump sum of 35 percent of what is owed within 30 days of termination with the rest to be paid out in equal installments over the remainder of the contract.
The Alleva Era at LSU will likely be remembered for massive facility upgrades and repeated controversy that has drawn the ire of a fan base that isn’t shy about voicing its displeasure for the former Duke official.
On the positive side, Alleva has overseen a massive facelift to Tiger Stadium and the construction of several new facilities around campus. Football is coming off its strongest season in years, but that hasn’t prevented Alleva from becoming massively unpopular with fans and boosters alike.
Alleva was at the center of the botched firing of former LSU coach Les Miles back in 2015. Jimbo Fisher, who Alleva wanted to replace Miles, is now the coach at Texas A&M.
He also took heat for promoting Ed Orgeron to head coach in 2016 after failing to hire Tom Herman, who is now at Texas. LSU and Orgeron recently agreed to a two-year extension that came with a raise.
Alleva, 65, came to LSU in 2008 from Duke University, where he had served as athletics director. He succeeded Skip Bertman and was chosen for the position from four finalists by then-President John Lombardi and Interim Chancellor William Jenkins