Brian Kelly was fired as the head coach at LSU on Sunday. Kenny Lacy, the father of Kyren Lacy, is thrilled to see him go.
He claims the 64-year-old showed a severe lack of compassion when his son took his own life.
Assuming this story is true, it does not come as a surprise. Kelly is a college football coach who was (and is) often abrasive toward assistant coaches, players, local reporters and even fans.
UPDATE: Kyren Lacy’s mom refutes her ex-husband’s statement.
Kyren Lacy was destined for greatness.
Lacy, born Dec. 27, 2000, initially committed to play college football at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette as a three-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2020. He played two years for the Ragin’ Cajuns as one of the top pass-catchers on the team.
The Houston-native later transferred to LSU in 2022 and eventually worked his way to the top of the depth chart in 2024, catching 58 passes for 866 yards and nine touchdowns.
Lacy was named as a second-team All-SEC wide receiver as a fifth-year senior. He projected as a potential first- or second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
And then tragedy struck.
A multivehicle crash in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana on Dec. 17, 2024, killed 78-year-old former Marine Herman Hall and injured others. Authorities allege that Lacy’s reckless driving caused the car accident before he left the scene without notifying police or rendering aid.
He turned himself in on Jan. 12, 2025 and was arrested on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. His trial was set for mid-April.
Unfortunately, Kyren Lacy never saw his day in court. The 24-year-old was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just one day before a grand jury was set to start hearing evidence in the case.
His father, Kenny, posted a heartbreaking message about mental health after his son’s death. A new video released at the beginning of October suggests Lacy’s vehicle may not have directly caused the fatal crash, which raises questions about the investigation. His attorney referred to the case as a “witch hunt” and argued the legal process treated him unfairly. Local authorities still hold him responsible.
Kyren Lacy will not get to learn the outcome of his trial.
Brian Kelly did not check on his former player.
Kelly was Lacy’s head coach at LSU for all three years he was in Baton Rouge. He was fired on Sunday.
Frank Wilson will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Wilson served as the associate head coach and running backs coach for the Tigers from 2010-2015 before a four-year stint as the head coach at UTSA and a two-year run at McNeese State. The beloved Louisiana-native returned to LSU as the associate head coach and running backs coach under Kelly in 2022.
Now he is the interim.
Kenny Lacy, the father of Kyren Lacy, could not be more thrilled for Wilson to get the opportunity. It also appears as though he is also glad to see his son’s former head coach is gone.
The late wide receiver’s father claims Kelly never even called to check in on him or his family after their son took his own life in April. Wilson took a very different approach.
“This dude [Frank Wilson] actually came sit down [sic] with our family and showed us some real genuine love when my son died along with a couple other coaches. I didn’t even get a call or text from [Kelly]. Must be nice to get paid millions to get your walking papers. Let’s get it coach Frank.”
Considering what we know about Brian Kelly and how he treats other people, this latest story places yet another stain on his character. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he did not reach out for legal reasons, but if Wilson was able to do so, why could he not?