Report: Les Miles to be next Kansas football coach

[den-the-coach]

Former LSU head football coach Les Miles might have a new landing spot as a leader of a college football program, Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger reports. Dellenger's story said negotiations have been ongoing with Kansas for the last week and this weekend, Miles could reportedly be announced as the next coach of the Jayhawks.

"Kansas is finalizing a deal to make Les Miles the new leader of the Jayhawks football program, multiple sources toldSports Illustrated. An announcement could come as soon as this weekend. Kansas athletic director Jeff Long and Miles both did not return requests for comment," Dellenger wrote. "Barring a last-minute change, the 65-year-old Miles, the quirky, grass-eating former LSU coach, will be in charge of restoring respectability to a Big 12 cellar-dweller that hasn’t had a winning season in a decade. He replaces fired coach David Beaty, taking his championship swagger, oddly positioned ball cap and unusual vernacular to one of the nation’s most struggling programs."

Miles, 64, has been out of coaching since he was fired at LSU in 2016. He amassed a 114-34 overall record in 12 seasons in Baton Rouge (2005-16), leading the Tigers to one BCS National Championship and two SEC titles over the that span.

LSU announced a settlement of monies owed to Miles this week. Both parties agreed to a one-time lump sum payment of $1.5 million of the $6.5 remaining in the original agreement which would have been binding until 2023.

Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said discussions with Miles and his representation have taken place over the course of several weeks. Alleva said the most important single factor in negotiating a new agreement is that it gives everyone incentive to move on.

“It’s time for both parties to move forward,” Alleva said in a statement. “One of the challenges of the buyout that was in place was there just wasn’t a lot of incentive to move on to other things. We were looking to provide that and Coach Miles and his representatives also were ready. It was a mutually agreed upon goal and a very positive process from beginning to end.”

46COMMENTS
Kansas director of athletics Jeff Long said in a recent interview that he's been entrusted with the head coaching search for the Jayhawks. Long courted Miles, LSU's head coach at the time, while he was at Arkansas and it naturally made sense for Long to make another overture to the former Michigan offensive lineman.

“I think this decision rests with me,”Long said last weekduring a 30-minute press conference. “I think the chancellor (Douglas Girod) has trusted me with this decision and I think that’s one of the reasons that he hired me, and has expressed that belief in me to be able to do the job. Now, it doesn’t mean I won’t use people to advise me as I move forward. But it won’t be a search firm as others have used in the past.”

https://247sports.com/college/lsu/A...es-to-be-next-Kansas-football-coach-124815075

 

[den-the-coach]

This is a great hire as the Kansas football program has been in the dark ages and the hiring of David Beaty an affable fellow, just showcases how clueless the previous athletic director was. Jeff Long the new AD reaches out to the man he tried to hire when he was at Arkansas.

Miles although 65 brings a great record and is a tireless recruiter that will serve him well, plus Miles has come out and stated he will hire an OC for the spread offense and give him autonomy. Miles also familiar with the Big 12 and it's landscape being that he coached at Oklahoma State prior to going to LSU. The age of 65 might scare some, but in this case I believe it's an asset because Miles won't go anywhere else, this will be his last coaching job, but as we've seen with Bill Snyder at Kansas State, Miles could be there longer thant five years.

 

[jrry32]

I don't like it for either side. JMO.

 

[Memento]

Hope that he sucks there! M-I-Z! FUCK KU!

 

[den-the-coach]

I don't like it for either side. JMO.

Jeff Long the new AD and Miles go way back to Michigan together and as you well know Counselor, it's about relationships. Long tried to hire Miles back when Long was at Arkansas, but Miles choose to stay at LSU....Again I like the hire because it's a winning coach and Kansas needs that, plus rumor is that Hugh Freeze former Ole Miss Coach will be Miles OC, which showcases huge gross for Les. IMO, this will work out well because everything else has failed at Kansas and now with Jeff Long, who has the ability to raise money, will give Kansas the ability to get their football facilities on par with basketball.

I predict the Jayhawks get better and eventually get to 8 or 9 wins, plus Miles is a relentless recruiter, so again, I think this works out well for Kansas because football is now important.

 

[jrry32]

Jeff Long the new AD and Miles go way back to Michigan together and as you well know Counselor, it's about relationships. Long tried to hire Miles back when Long was at Arkansas, but Miles choose to stay at LSU....Again I like the hire because it's a winning coach and Kansas needs that, plus rumor is that Hugh Freeze former Ole Miss Coach will be Miles OC, which showcases huge gross for Les. IMO, this will work out well because everything else has failed at Kansas and now with Jeff Long, who has the ability to raise money, will give Kansas the ability to get their football facilities on par with basketball.

I predict the Jayhawks get better and eventually get to 8 or 9 wins, plus Miles is a relentless recruiter, so again, I think this works out well for Kansas because football is now important.

IMO, Kansas needed to go with a young, innovative coach. Kendal Briles is an example. Les can get them to respectability, but he's old and won't build something more imo. Freeze would be a great hire, but Freeze will bolt for a HC job first chance he gets. IMO, he should have a HC job now. He got scapegoated for the mess at Ole Miss.

 

[den-the-coach]

IMO, Kansas needed to go with a young, innovative coach. Kendal Briles is an example. Les can get them to respectability, but he's old and won't build something more imo. Freeze would be a great hire, but Freeze will bolt for a HC job first chance he gets. IMO, he should have a HC job now. He got scapegoated for the mess at Ole Miss.

They said the same thing about Kansas State when they hired Ron Prince to take over for Bill Snyder. Granted Miles is 65, but IMO, he's got something left and the Jayhawks have tried Young in Turner Gill and even Dave Beaty, this program needs a proven winner and Miles might be 65, but he's a young 65 very much like Vermeil IMO.

Agreed on Freeze, but teams are not going to line up to hire him immediately going to take a few years and by that time, Kansas will be in a bowl game....The Kansas Jayhawks have captured my attention because of how bad they are (were) have to give Beaty some kudos, they are at least competitive now, but they need to win and Les Miles wins. Again Miles knows the Big 12 and is ready to hire a big time OC and Beaty has left him a few pieces in place, plus Kansas is an excellent academic institution so that will help, although the weather won't.

 

[den-the-coach]

Freeze would be a great hire, but Freeze will bolt for a HC job first chance he gets. IMO, he should have a HC job now. He got scapegoated for the mess at Ole Miss.

BTW Freeze got more than scapegoated as The higher-ups could seemingly handle the rumors of nefarious activity on the recruiting trail and payments being made to players. But when a supposed God-fearing man like Freeze got caught with his proverbial pants down, it was time to cut bait.

It was more than the escort service, it was also recruiting violations that the NCAA takes very seriously, so again, I would not be shocked if it took a couple of years before Freeze gets another shot, it at all, because major recruiting violations can be the kiss of death. Jim Tressel is a good example.

 

[jrry32]

BTW Freeze got more than scapegoated as The higher-ups could seemingly handle the rumors of nefarious activity on the recruiting trail and payments being made to players. But when a supposed God-fearing man like Freeze got caught with his proverbial pants down, it was time to cut bait.

It was more than the escort service, it was also recruiting violations that the NCAA takes very seriously, so again, I would not be shocked if it took a couple of years before Freeze gets another shot, it at all, because major recruiting violations can be the kiss of death. Jim Tressel is a good example.

Tressel could have coached again. His age plus the AD position at YSU made him decide not to return. Freeze will already be at a few years by the end of next year. With his track record of success, hard to see him not getting another shot. Look at Bobby Petrino.

 

[den-the-coach]

With his track record of success, hard to see him not getting another shot. Look at Bobby Petrino.

Good Point and Petrino is pond scum, but i still believe it will take a couple of years for Freeze (if he is the new OC at Kansas) and it might not be at a power 5 school either although if Chad Ford does not turn it around, Arkansas will be pretty desperate.

 

[den-the-coach]

Report: Les Miles interested in Hugh Freeze as his OC
By John TaylorJan 4, 2018, 2:10 PM EST

If Les Miles is looking to NOT get back into coaching, this is probably one way to go about it.

Wednesday, a report surfaced that there was mutual interest between Miles and Arizona in the former LSU and Oklahoma State filling its coaching vacancy. A day later, another report has surfaced that, if Miles lands another job, he would be interested in bringing former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze along as his offensive coordinator.



Bruce Feldman

✔@BruceFeldmanCFB
https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/948979956109008896

Have heard Les Miles has interest in making Hugh Freeze his OC if he does get another head coaching job. One of the concerns with Miles has been his offense. Freeze’s spread system might help ease some of those doubts.

1:10 PM - Jan 4, 2018

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As a reminder, the Arizona job is open because Rich Rodriguez was fired after a sexual harassment claim was filed against him by a former female administrative assistant and Freeze is available because he “resigned” from Ole Miss after it was discovered he was using a school-issued cell phone to hook up with escort services. And that’s not even mentioning the Rebels’ NCAA issues while Freeze was in charge.

So, yeah, if Miles wants to bring Freeze along with him, you can probably cross the Mad Hatter off the list of potential RichRod replacements in the desert.

UPDATED 2:53 p.m. ET: Welp, you knew this blowback was coming after the initial trial balloon was floated.



Bruce Feldman

✔@BruceFeldmanCFB
· Jan 4, 2018

Have heard Les Miles has interest in making Hugh Freeze his OC if he does get another head coaching job. One of the concerns with Miles has been his offense. Freeze’s spread system might help ease some of those doubts.



Bruce Feldman

✔@BruceFeldmanCFB

I have confirmed with Hugh Freeze that he and Les Miles had not spoken specifically about the #Arizona coaching vacancy.

2:43 PM - Jan 4, 2018

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https://collegefootballtalk.nbcspor...es-miles-interested-in-hugh-freeze-as-his-oc/

 

[dieterbrock]

2:43 PM - Jan 4, 2018

A little out dated brudda....

 

[den-the-coach]

A little out dated brudda....

Just showcasing that Freeze was on Miles radar back in January too, which make it more of a reality and that it's not just someone else's assumption.

 

[dieterbrock]

Just showcasing that Freeze was on Miles radar back in January too, which make it more of a reality and that it's not just someone else's assumption.

No way he hires Freeze. Hugh is off in AAF land with the rest of the outcast coaches.

 

[den-the-coach]

No way he hires Freeze. Hugh is off in AAF land with the rest of the outcast coaches.

They are good friends, I think he hires Freeze to run the Jayhawk offense as Freeze works on reinventing himself along with Miles too. Jayhawks have one plan and that's to win football games. They need to ensure they stay in a power 5 conference in football and Jeff Long was hired as Athletic Director for that very reason. That and his ability to raise money.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Good Point and Petrino is pond scum, but i still believe it will take a couple of years for Freeze (if he is the new OC at Kansas) and it might not be at a power 5 school either although if Chad Ford does not turn it around, Arkansas will be pretty desperate.

den,
Chad Ford? I believe you are referring to Chad Morris. And you are most likely correct on the U of A being interested in Freeze if Morris flounders since he was the HC at Arkansas State before bolting for Ole Miss. Many Hog fans wanted him over Brett Bielema but, alas, it was not to be.

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[den-the-coach]

den,
Chad Ford? I believe you are referring to Chad Morris. And you are most likely correct on the U of A being interested in Freeze if Morris flounders since he was the HC at Arkansas State before bolting for Ole Miss. Many Hog fans wanted him over Brett Bielema but, alas, it was not to be.

~ArkyRamsFan~

Yes Chad Morris and I realize he has the backing of one of Arkansas biggest booster in Jerry Jones, but Arkansas should be better than 2-10, don't understand how they can be that bad. Realize a major transition from a pro style attack to the spread, but Morris turned around SMU after going 2-10 in his first year, so we shall see if he does the same in Fayetteville.

 

[den-the-coach]

Les Miles brings Auburn offensive coordinator to Kansas


LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is leaving Auburn to take the same job at Kansas.

Kansas announced Tuesday that new coach Les Miles named Lindsey to his staff. Lindsey has been Auburn’s offensive coordinator for the last two seasons.

Miles said in a news release that Lindsey has a proven record of coaching “electric” offenses and a strong reputation for developing his players.

In 2017, Lindsey’s Auburn offense was just the eighth in SEC history to rush and pass for 3,000 yards. He also has been offensive coordinator at Southern Miss (2014-15) and Arizona State (2016).

Lindsey previously was an offensive analyst at Auburn in 2013 and quarterbacks coach at Troy in 2010.

Miles announced Sunday that he hired Chevis Jackson as defensive backs coach.

 

[den-the-coach]

Chip Lindsey a good match for Miles and IMO., I see Kansas as an 8-3 team in a couple years with possible upsets too.....Now at some universities that would be unaccpetable, but getting Kansas back to respectability and in a major bowl will be quite an accomplishment and I believe Miles will be to Kansas what Justin Fuentes was to Memphis.

 

[dieterbrock]

Curious choice for OC for a guy who was going to hand over the offense.