Lane Kiffin Keeps LSU’s Power Brokers — And It’s the Total Opposite of Brian Kelly

Lane Kiffin is making power moves at LSU — and one of his smartest decisions so far is what he didn’t do.

Rather than wiping out the program’s internal structure the way Brian Kelly did in 2021, Kiffin has retained and promoted key LSU support staff, including JR Belton’s promotion to Assistant General Manager. While Kiffin brought trusted personnel from Ole Miss, he’s also preserved institutional knowledge to stabilize the transition and keep LSU’s football machine running smoothly.

We discuss:

Why keeping LSU’s behind-the-scenes leadership matters

How Kiffin’s approach differs sharply from Brian Kelly’s overhaul

Why the JR Belton promotion is a major signal internally

Lane Kiffin’s Houston fundraising trip and the cost of the roster he just built

Whether massive football spending impacts booster appetite for a Matt McMahon buyout

The ripple effects this could have on LSU basketball and the athletic department

Kiffin isn’t just recruiting players — he’s recruiting people, money, and trust. And that may be the difference in whether this era at LSU truly works.

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