BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – LSU football is already one of Louisiana’s largest economic engines, but the arrival of new head coach Lane Kiffin could push that impact even higher, according to an LSU economist.
Dek Terrell, a professor at LSU who has conducted multiple studies on the university’s economic footprint, said the numbers tied to athletics are already staggering. His most recent analysis, completed in 2022, estimated the athletic program’s overall economic impact at roughly $500 million.
Terrell said renewed excitement surrounding Kiffin and rising expectations for the program could potentially add another $100 million in economic activity in the future.
A portion of that money comes in the form of tax revenue that could eventually support projects across Louisiana, including infrastructure upgrades, public safety initiatives and education.
“This move could have a substantial impact on the future of LSU and the state as a whole,” Terrell said.
Students on campus say the buzz around Kiffin is already noticeable.
“You get a big name like that… Coach O, Saban, Kiffin… you see those names on billboards around campus and around the city, and people are going to be intrigued to see what Baton Rouge is all about,” LSU student Kyle Stack said.
Terrell said the university should also prepare for another potential outcome, which is a spike in student enrollment. He pointed to the University of Alabama as an example of what a successful football program can do for a school’s profile.
“One of the things we saw at the University of Alabama with Nick Saban is that over the last 20 years, their enrollment has gone up almost 120%,” Terrell said.
If LSU experiences similar growth, he said the university will need to be proactive. That includes expanding housing, academic buildings and hiring more faculty.
A new dorm currently under construction, which is expected to house more than 1,000 students, is one example of the kind of preparation LSU may need to ramp up if enrollment surges.
“We’re already building here at LSU. So, if you’re going to add 10,000 more students, then there’s going to have to be buildings, and you’re going to have to hire more people to teach them,” Terrell said.
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