Les Miles is packing his bags and heading to Lawrence, Kansas. Miles is leaving the broadcast booth and headed back to the sidelines. Two years after his departure from Louisiana State University Miles will be back on the field as a head coach.
Kansas released David Beaty after he led the Jayhawks to a disappointing 6-40 record in his career as Kansas head coach. Who could they bring in to turn their program around? Les Miles had followed in the footsteps of Nick Saban at LSU and in his third season there led the Tigers to a National Championship. This is a man who has proven he can quickly take a team to the top.
Miles finalized his buyout deal with LSU accepting $1.5 million in a lump sum of the $6.5 million that remained due in the buyout deal. His dealings with Louisiana State behind him he was free to move forward and negotiate with Kansas.
Miles of History
Les Miles began his coaching career in 1980 at his alma mater Michigan. At Michigan he was able to coach with his former coach the great Bo Schembechler. From coaching as an assistant to one of the great coaches of the era his career took off. As an Assistant Miles went on to Colorado, Oklahoma State and the Dallas Cowboys. Miles career followed the natural progression and he got his first opportunity as a head coach at Oklahoma State.
In his four years as head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys Miles’ teams finished third in the Big 12 South two years and fifth the other two. The Cowboys went to three straight bowl games. There were rumors during Miles’ time at Oklahoma State of wrongdoing. No one presented any evidence of the wrongdoing.
Off To The Bayou
Less than a week after Oklahoma State’s loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Less Miles was named head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. The Bayou Bengals brought Miles more wins and more controversy.
The wins came early with Miles taking the Tigers all the way to a National Championship in their third season together. The Tigers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in January 2008 to bring Miles his first Championship. Four years later in 2012 the Tigers lost in the Championship game in 2011. The rest of Miles career at LSU was less than stellar. One of Miles’ biggest downfalls was his inability to beat the coach he replaced, Nick Saban. From the time the Tigers lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship game in January 2012 it seemed as though the Tigers were cursed. Whether they played in Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge the Tigers under Les Miles could not beat Nick Saban’s Alabama teams. It may not have been such a big deal, but the LSU fan base felt betrayed by Saban and the way he had left them.
Controversy
The controversy came again for Miles during his championships season. Rumors had it that Miles was just waiting on the Michigan head coaching position to come open so he could return to his alma mater. These rumors resurfaced in 2011. While it may not have been controversial, Miles was known as the “Mad Hatter”. It wasn’t just because of his signature white hat, but because of eccentric play calling. As Miles stretched the envelope of play calling at LSU it stretched the patience of fans and the athletic department. mI
Four games into the 2016 season LSU fired Les Miles. He was replaced by Ed Oregeron (who has a story of his own). Miles went from LSU to occasional appearances in the broadcast booth and even made some movies. Then came the call from Kansas.
The Future
Miles has the ability to bring Kansas program to success. He has done it in the past. Next season he will be leading a team that is currently 3-8 with only one conference win. Does Kansas have the potential be to be coached into being a contender? That remains to be seen. It is late in the game for Miles to begin doing any serious recruiting but there is the potential to pick up some talent.
The Questions
The question for me would be is Les Miles using this job as a stepping stone to what seems to be his dream job, the Michigan head coaching position? Will controversy follow Miles again? Will he continue to make bold moves that will solidify his Mad Hatter nickname? No matter what happens Les Miles at Kansas will be interesting to watch.