LSU athletics has a lot of new faces these days, none more notable than new basketball coach Will Wade and football coach Lane Kiffin, both of whom have been tasked with returning their programs to the top of their respective sports.
But that's only part of the picture, new LSU President Wade Rousse told WWL Radio's Mike Detillier this week. The ultimate goals are much larger.
"We are going to figure out ways that we can truly drive our brand," Rousse told WWL. "We have a global brand here at LSU, it’s absolutely global, and we’re trying to set up a university that I keep saying we’re not going to be blurry in the middle, we’re going to be elite and accessible.”
Hear the full, exclusive interview with LSU President Wade Rousse in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Rousse said the plan will be similar to the one he was a key part in enacting at McNeese State, simply at a much larger scale. LSU has already brought in two of the key pieces in getting that done for the Cowboys in Wade and also former McNeese Athletic Directory Heath Schroyer, who has been hired in a Deputy AD role for the Tigers.
"You think about the numbers at the flagship it’s entirely different, a much larger scale … and the lights are much brighter here, but the rewards are much greater. So [Schroyer is] going to do great," Rousse said. "He’s going to fit in there. He’s excited to work for Verge and try to figure out how he can bring some new dollars into the program and get our basketball program back where it needs to be. We are not satisfied by being at the bottom of the SEC in basketball, period, so we are going to work to get that thing back where it needs to be.”
Rousse said Wade and Kiffin both understand the mission is about more than simply winning games, though that part is also crucial. A similarly large part of the role is brand-building and connecting with current and future students and student-athletes at Louisiana's flagship university through the basketball and football programs. Once those elements land, the positives will follow.
He also emphasized the importance of fostering and building on relationships with alums, so many of whom are eager to give back to the university in a variety of ways.
"We’ve got folks all over the world that really love the purple and gold and they continue to fly that flag no matter where they are," Rousse continued, "and it’s very important for us as leadership that we continue to keep our arms wide open when they want to come back to campus and be a part of an athletic program or just want to come on campus and see a research lab. It’s very important that they’re part of this family and that’s what is different about Louisiana.”
