"Kelly’s contract contains a “Duty to Mitigate” clause. This clause explicitly requires Kelly to “exercise due diligence and good faith in seeking qualifying employment so long as the liquidated damage obligation exists.” Or, in simple terms, Kelly has to look for another job, and any money that he gets paid from that job would then be used to reduce LSU’s payment."
https://huddleup.substack.com/p/inside-brian-kellys-54-million-lsu
Thus, he can't sit on his ass and demand full payment. And he can't just go to the local juco and take minimum wage as an "analyst" and collect the balance from LSU. He has to exercise "due diligence and good faith" and therefore he has to actually try to find a good high paying job. If he claims that he tried and struck or could only get a low paying job he needs proof. The fact is that someone would hire him as a HC and pay him well this cycle. He can either let that process play out and if he gets paid less than the buyout collect the balance from LSU, or if he does not want to pursue new employment at this time, take a settlement. The clause is designed to incentivize both sides to settle for a reasonable amount.