Les Miles leaves as a Kansas football coach four days after a report was released accusing him of inappropriate behavior toward students while coaching at LSU.
Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said Friday that the university would conduct a full review to determine the right steps for Miles’ future and on Monday afternoon announced that they had “agreed to separate” from the coach.
“I am very disappointed with our university, the fans and everyone involved in our football program,” Long said in a statement. “There is a lot of young talent on this football team, and I have no doubt we will identify the right person to lead this program. We will immediately begin the search for a new coach with an outside company to assist in this process.” We have to win football matches, and that is exactly what we will do. “
Mike DeBord, who was hired last month as Kansas offensive coordinator, will serve as the program’s acting coach until an interim coach is determined.
Last Thursday, a report released on behalf of LSU showed that a 2013 internal investigation at the school accused Miles of inappropriate behavior toward students, including allegations that he contacted some via Facebook and sent text messages , met them alone on campus and kissed them at least. they.
The report did not find him having sex with any of the women and Miles firmly denied kissing the student, saying he was not doing anything wrong and that he was advising young women in college.
According to a copy of Miles’ employment contract with Kansas, the university would have a “just cause” to terminate its agreement with Miles if the coach had “discredited conduct that was inconsistent with the expected professional standards of a head coach.” ‘a collegiate sports team. “
Another clause in the contract that defines “just cause” is the “participation by the head coach of any act, situation or occurrence or any conduct that, in KU’s Athletics criteria, causes the head coach and / or KU are publicly discredited, embarrassed, despised or ridiculed … “
It is unclear whether these clauses were activated; the terms of the separation agreement are expected to be published in the coming days, according to the university statement.
“This is definitely a difficult day for me and my family,” Miles said in a statement Monday. “I love this college and the young men in our football program. I really enjoyed being the head coach of KU and I know he’s in a better place now than when I arrived.
“For our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play at KU and got a degree here. So I beg you to stay, take advantage of what we started and do all the things we talked about doing together. There is a bright future for all of you and for KU Football. “
Miles ‘attorney, Peter Ginsberg, last Saturday described Kansas’ decision to leave Miles on leave based on a “media bounce” and described her as “disturbing and unfair.”
Law firm Taylor Porter conducted the investigation on behalf of LSU. Ginsberg told ESPN on Thursday that the results of the investigation “should put an end to unfounded and inaccurate media reports that coach Les Miles participated in an inappropriate touch by a student volunteer in the Department of Athletics eight years ago. “.
On Friday, a second report, led by law firm Husch Blackwell, detailed LSU’s systemic failures to adequately report incidents of athletic misconduct and sexual abuse. Part of that report showed that former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended in 2013 that Miles be fired as a coach because of the aforementioned allegations of misconduct with students.
Miles, 67, was 3-18 in two seasons in Kansas, including a 0-9 record in 2020. The Jayhawks ’only 12 big wins during Miles’ two seasons at Lawrence surpassed Texas Tech on 2019. Kansas has not won more than three games in a season since 2009.
Miles led LSU to a national championship in 2007, and the Tigers played a national championship on their watch in 2011.
Long and Miles worked together in Michigan in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before Long hired him at KU, Miles had been off the coach for parts of three seasons after being fired by LSU in 2016.