Pivot Podcast William F. Tate, former LSU President inaugurated at Rutgers, shares insight into LSU sports, role of hiring Brian Kelly, Scott Woodward, Verge Ausberry, how a state university works with governments, NIL and vision for opportunity of all students
Nov 7, 2025
William F. Tate, an academic leader and former LSU president recently inaugurated at Rutgers, dives into his experiences in higher education. He discusses the cultural contrasts between LSU and Rutgers and emphasizes the importance of strong relationships with government officials for public university funding. Tate reflects on race dynamics during his tenure at LSU and explains the complexities of hiring successful coaches. He also explores how NIL has transformed college athletics and advocates for education as a vital means of opportunity for all students.
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State Relations Are Strategic Funding Work
- Public universities rely heavily on state relationships because 20–30% of funding can come from state appropriations and capital projects.
- Tate framed annual legislative engagement as presenting a business case and compact with the state.
Winning Trust With Race-Neutral Proposals
- Tate described initial mistrust from Louisiana legislators partly because he wasn't from Louisiana and how he addressed it by proposing race-neutral, statewide benefits.
- He stressed projects like coastal research and biomedical care that help everyone regardless of background.
Hire With Clear Alignment And Criteria
- Align university administration, athletic leadership, boosters/NIL partners, and government to execute winning athletic strategies.
- Use clear criteria (e.g., portable 10-win seasons) to guide hiring decisions rather than noise or guesswork.