Van Chancellor will remain on the LSU athletics staff for the last year of his contract, but not as the women’s basketball coach.
Chancellor resigned Wednesday after four seasons, two days after the Lady Tigers were denied an NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 1998. He will remain with LSU for the next 14 months as a special assistant to the athletic director, said Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Joe Alleva.
“This is an agreement we made that is in the best interest of the Athletic Department and our women’s basketball program,” Alleva said. “[Chancellor] came here at a time when we really needed his expertise, leadership and guidance. He’s leaving the program on solid, solid footing.”
Chancellor, 67, inherited a Lady Tiger squad with eight seniors in 2007-08 and led the team to a 31-5 record and its fifth-straight Final Four. LSU advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament the next two seasons before not receiving an invitation this season.
LSU will have one of the best freshmen in the country on its roster next season with the arrival of 6-foot-4-inch McDonald’s All-American forward Krystal Forthan. Forthan is rated the No. 5 prospect in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz.
“Coaches leave programs and leave the cupboard bare, but this cupboard is not bare,” Chancellor said. “It’s got an All-[Southeastern Conference] player [junior forward LaSondra Barrett] and another player that should have been All-SEC [Honorable Mention sophomore guard Adrienne Webb]. And the best player LSU signed is coming in here.”
Alleva said a search for Chancellor’s replacement will begin immediately.
“I have a handful of people in mind,” Alleva said. “Many of them are playing in the NCAA tournament right now. … My timetable is to get the best person.”
Associate Sports Information director Bill Martin said Chancellor’s salary will drop from $660,000 to $250,000 starting July 1.
When asked what his administrative position will involve, Chancellor responded jokingly.
“I hope it entails a lot of golf. … I’m going to be willing to do anything they want me to do as long as it involves golf,” he said. “I might try broadcasting again. … If I have the bug for coaching, I’m going to try the WNBA after I finish this year at LSU.”
 
Blog: Was Van Chancellor forced out? Well…
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]