Newly anointed LSU president Wade Rousse joined WWL with a firm message about who is in charge of selecting the university's next head football coach.
Rousse didn’t mince words: LSU’s new athletic director (AD), Verge Ausberry, occupies the driver's seat.
“I have complete confidence in our AD that we're going to hire the best coach who is the best fit for the best program in America,” Rousse tells WWL. “Verge bleeds purple and gold. He has my full authority to find us a coach… I couldn't be more pleased to have removed the 'interim' title off him.”
Rousse, formerly McNeese University President, enters his new role with a strong background in economics. He emphasizes the importance of forming a strong football program with a best-in-class coach.
“We have a global brand at LSU, and the main drivers of that brand happen Saturday night in Tiger Stadium,” Rousse says. “And, ultimately, in Louisiana, it's who we are. It's how we find and attract students, high-quality students from around the world. We take it very seriously. The athletic director reports directly to me. I’m getting to know Verge very well. I just removed the interim tag; he’s the acting AD.”
Rousse says that the search for the new football coach could last through the college playoffs, if that’s what it comes down to, but there's no guarantee.
UNO to be part of LSU come July 1st
The new president also comments on plans to bring struggling UNO back under the LSU brand.
“We have to have a public university in New Orleans,” Rousse proclaims. “The official roll-in is July 1st. On July 1st, we truly expect to have UNO back into our LSU system.”
While talks of brining in UNO remain ongoing, Rousse states it's one of his top priorities.
“I was in New Orleans today, and at our big committee meeting, we talked about how we're going to bring UNO back into the LSU system," Rousse states. "It's going to return to be LSUNO. What I think is the wonderful part of that, it provides resources that allow them to create efficiencies that they can leverage to create better outcomes. I remember UNO in the late 80s and 90s, you know, being 14,000-50000 students pre-Katrina, being a very rigorous program. My first master's is from the University of New Orleans. So it's near and dear ot my heart.
Rousse also lays out his vision for the school and why he believes a thriving LSU is necessary for a thriving Louisiana.
“It matters because when we think about economic growth in Louisiana, there are two things that drive that: the ability ot attract capital and labor productivity. Labor productivity is driven by our higher education system,” Rousse claims.
The goal, according to Rousse, is to make LSU’s main campus a national attraction for top college students.
“We want to be an elite university in Baton Rouge," Rousee declares. "The vision is to change the vision of how we educate in Louisiana and to truly develop an elite university and get the top 50 universities... but also having access throughout the entire state and change the way we educate Louisianians."