Kansas and soccer coach Les Miles mutually agreed to split up immediately, the school announced Monday night. Miles, who took over the Jayhawks program in 2019, was put on administrative leave over the weekend after an explosive report went public last week, which revealed that he behaved inappropriately with women during his time as an LSU coach.
Announcing the decision to put him on administrative leave over the weekend, Kansas athletic director Jeff Long promised to “conduct a thorough review” to determine the appropriate next steps.
“I am extremely disappointed by our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program,” said Long on Monday night. “There are a lot of young talents on this football team and I have no doubt that we will be identifying the right person to lead this program. We will immediately start looking for a new head coach with an outside company to help us with this process. We need to win football games and that is exactly what we are going to do ”.
Miles, who was 3-18 years old in his two seasons in Kansas, called mutual separation a “difficult day” for him and his family. The terms of the separation were not disclosed.
“I love this university and the young people on our football program. I really enjoyed being the head coach of KU and I know that she is in a better place now than when I arrived,” he said. “To our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play for KU and graduate here. So I beg you to stay and develop 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. “
Kansas offensive coordinator Mike DeBord will continue to serve as the program’s interim coach until an interim coach is determined, the program explained. The national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
Miles’ alleged misconduct at LSU came to light after an investigation by Husch Blackwell into Title IX issues at LSU, which detailed the inappropriate behavior that included “sending text messages to female students, taking them to their condo alone, making them feel uncomfortable and, at least once, kisses a student and suggesting that they go to a hotel after telling her that he could help with his career. “Husch Blackwell’s investigation also revealed that the ex – LSU athletic director Joe Alleva wanted to fire Miles for cause in 2013 for his misconduct. Miles continued to train the Tigers before being fired in the fall of 2016.
Kansas officials told Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports that the Jayhawks examined Miles thoroughly and found no red flags before he was hired.
“We did background checks. We did all those kinds of things,” said a senior school official who declined to be identified because of the delicate nature of the process. “We talked to people about Les and what he was doing. No one gave any indication of that. No investigation, no reports, nothing. Zero.”
Miles had already reached an agreement with a former trainee in the LSU athletics department while he served as a coach at LSU, according to a February report in Baton Rouge Advocate. He denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, issued a statement on Saturday calling Long’s decision to leave Miles on leave as “stooped to the winds of the media setback”.
“Kansas’ decision to place Les Miles on administrative leave is disturbing and unfair,” said Ginsburg on Saturday. “Failing to recognize that a person’s career should not be compromised by unfounded claims is hardly consistent with the example that a higher education institution must uphold.”
Kansas sources resisted Ginsberg’s claim.
“That was disappointing,” said a source to Dodd, referring to the Ginsburg statement. “He made a misleading comment in his statement.”