Les Miles

College coach infobox
Name = Les Miles


ImageWidth =
Caption =
Title = Head coach
Sport = Football
College = LSU
Conference = SEC
CurrentRecord = 38-6 (.864)
DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1953|11|10
Birthplace = flagicon|Ohio Elyria, Ohio
DateOfDeath =
Deathplace =
OverallRecord = 66–27 (.710)
Contract =
BowlRecord = 4–2
TournamentRecord =
CFbDWID = 1620
Championships = 2007 - SEC championship2007 - BCS and AP National Championship
Awards =
CoachingRecords =
Player = Y
Years = 1974-1975
Team = Michigan
Position = OL
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1980-1981
1982-1986
1987-1994
1995-1997
1998-2000
2001-2004
2005-present
CoachTeams = Michigan (GA)
Colorado (OL)
Michigan (OL)
Oklahoma State (OC)
Dallas Cowboys (TE)
Oklahoma State
LSU
FootballHOF =
CollegeHOFID =
BBallHOF =

Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles (born November 10, 1953 in Elyria, Ohio) is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State. He was formerly an assistant at Oklahoma State University as well as with the University of Michigan, the University of Colorado and the Dallas Cowboys. Miles has held the head coaching position at LSU since January 2005 and has an agreement to coach LSU through 2012. Miles coached the Tigers to a win in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State, 38-24.

Playing and assistant coaching career

Miles earned all-state honors in football at Elyria High School in Ohio as well as letters in baseball and wrestling. [ [http://www.lesmiles.net/athletics/lesmiles.nsf/$Content/Biography?OpenDocument Les Miles Biography] ] He attended the University of Michigan where he was a two year letterman under Coach Bo Schembechler from 1974 to 75. In 1980, Miles returned to Michigan as an assistant coach to Schembechler. He left Michigan in 1982 to coach at the University of Colorado where fellow Michigan assistant Bill McCartney had just been named head coach. Coincidentally, one of his fellow assistants on the Colorado staff was another future LSU head coach, Gerry DiNardo, who coached at LSU from 1995-99.

He returned to Michigan in 1987 and helped lead the team to eight consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances, including four Rose Bowl appearances. After Gary Moeller's resignation, Miles left Michigan again to join former Colorado assistant Bob Simmons staff at Oklahoma State as offensive coordinator. During the 1998 through 2000 seasons he was the tight ends coach for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

Head coaching career

Oklahoma State

Miles returned to Oklahoma State in 2001 as head coach. In the three years prior to Miles's arrival in Stillwater, the Cowboys finished 5–6, 5–6, and 3–8. Oklahoma State posted another losing record (4–7) in Miles' first season at the helm, but subsequently achieved winning records during each of the following three seasons - 8–5, 9–4, and 7–5, respectively. His last three seasons at Oklahoma State ended in invitations to the Houston, Cotton, and Alamo Bowls, respectively.

During the last game of Miles' first season as head coach, OSU faced Oklahoma, who was ranked #4 in the nation. Despite the fact that OSU was facing Oklahoma on the road, Miles led his team to a 16–13 upset victory over the Sooners (who ended up finishing the season ranked #6 after winning the Cotton Bowl).

During Miles's second season, OSU again ended the regular season with a game against Oklahoma. This time Oklahoma was ranked the #3 team in the country. And yet again, Miles led his team to a 38-28 upset victory over the Sooners (who ended up finishing the season ranked #5 after winning the Rose Bowl). As a result of his performance during his second year, Miles was named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2002.

LSU

In January 2005, Miles was named the head coach of Louisiana State University. He replaced Nick Saban, who had left LSU to take over the Miami Dolphins. In August 2005, days before Miles was to make his debut as the coach of LSU, Hurricane Katrina struck south Louisiana. LSU's first game, a home date against North Texas, was postponed until later in the season. The Tigers second game, against Arizona State, was moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe because the LSU campus was still serving as an emergency center for Hurricane Katrina relief. The conference opener against the University of Tennessee was also delayed, this time because of Hurricane Rita. The game was played two days late.

In his first season as coach LSU won the 2005 SEC Western Division title with a 10-1 regular season record -- including wins over #15 Arizona State (9/10/05), #11 Florida (10/15/05), #16 Auburn (10/22/05) and #4 Alabama (11/12/05). LSU's only regular season loss was an upset at home to #10 Tennessee (9/26/05). In the Tennessee game, after building a 21–0 lead at halftime, the Tigers failed to score another touchdown and lost to UT 30–27 in overtime. In the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, Georgia, the #3-ranked LSU Tigers, though favored, lost to #13 Georgia 34–14. LSU recovered to win the 2005 Peach Bowl with a 40-3 romp of the #9-ranked Miami Hurricanes. Miles finished his first season at LSU with an 11-2 record, a #6 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and a #5 ranking in the AP Poll.

In 2006, LSU finished the regular season with ten wins (10-2), and ended the season with six straight wins. 2006 marked the first time in LSU history that the Tigers finished with back-to-back 10-win seasons. Miles was able to do this in spite of his team playing its four toughest games on the road. All four games were against teams ranked in the top eight when the game took place, with three of the teams in the top five (Auburn, Florida, Arkansas). LSU split those four games, losing to Auburn and Florida, but beating Tennessee and Arkansas. LSU did not win the SEC West title, finishing one game behind Arkansas. However, the Tigers were ranked ahead of Arkansas at the end of the regular season, and were rewarded with an invitation to face Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl where they defeated the Irish 41–14. LSU finished the 2006 season ranked #3 overall in both the AP and ESPN polls.

In 2007, Miles gained national attention due to numerous unconventional play calls during nationally televised games. LSU was ranked #1 twice during the regular season, but lost its final regular season game at home to unranked Arkansas 50-48 in triple-overtime. Despite the loss, LSU would go on to the SEC championship game. On the day of the SEC championship game, Kirk Herbstreit falsely reported on ESPN's "College GameDay" that Les Miles had accepted an offer to succeed Lloyd Carr as the head coach at the University of Michigan. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3136391 Source: Miles will remain coach at LSU] ] Despite the media distractions, LSU won the 2007 SEC title, beating Tennessee 21–14. The night of LSU's SEC title victory, the teams then ranked number one and two lost allowing LSU to be ranked #2 in the AP, Coaches, Harris, and BCS polls. LSU beat the Buckeyes in the 2008 BCS Championship giving Les Miles his first national championship.

As of the end of the 2007 regular season, which featured victories over six different coaches with national championships, Miles' record as head coach at LSU is 34-6.

Les Miles has become known as "The Hat," in reference to the way he wears a white LSU baseball cap on the sidelines during LSU football games. The phrase "Fear the Hat" has become an unofficial slogan for LSU football under Miles in some circles. During the 2007 season, he also received the nickname "The Mad Hatter," in reference to his outspoken nature and defiant attitude.

Michigan Head Coach Speculation

Throughout the 2007 season, there was speculation that Les Miles would be a top candidate for the University of Michigan head coaching position if it became available. On the day of the SEC championship game, Kirk Herbstreit, the former quarterback for Michigan rival Ohio State, falsely reported on ESPN's "College GameDay" that Les Miles had accepted an offer to succeed Lloyd Carr as the head coach at the University of Michigan. Herbstreit was criticised for his obvious fascination for all things Big Ten and shoddy reporting skills. LSU officials quickly responded to Herbstreit's announcement and confirmed that Les Miles would not be taking the Michigan position and would be staying at LSU. [cite web | title = Les Miles expected to shun Michigan, has agreement to stay at LSU | work = Detroit Free Press | url = http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071201/SPORTS06/71201011 | accessdate = 1 December | accessyear = 2007 ] Miles cleared up any confusion himself in a last minute press conference to reporters saying,

“There was some misinformation on ESPN and I think it’s imperative that I straighten it out.

I am the head coach at LSU. I will be the head coach at LSU. I have no interest in talking to anybody else. I’ve got a championship game to play, and I am excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play in it. That’s really all I’d like to say. It was unfortunate that I had to address my team with this information this morning. With that being done, I think we’d be ready to play. There will be no questions for me. I represent me in this issue. Please ask me after. I’m busy.

Thank you very much. Have a great day.” [cite web | title = This Is The Place I Want To Be | work = The Advocate | url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/12026681.html | accessdate = 2 December | accessyear = 2007 ]

The speculation resurfaced two weeks later when "The Detroit Free Press" reported that Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman spoke with Miles directly over the phone a few days after he signed a contract extension with LSU. [ [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/SPORTS06/712110397 Michigan contacted LSU coach Les Miles last week] ] In response to the report, Miles issued a statement acknowledging the conversation, but claimed that he was merely offering advice and assistance to Martin on Michigan's search and that he is not a candidate for the vacancy. Miles reaffirmed his commitment to stay at LSU, declaring "I'm going to be the coach at LSU next season." [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3150159 Miles: 'I'll say it again, I'm going to be the coach at LSU'] ] Any remaining speculation that Miles would still consider the job ended on December 16, 2007 when West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez accepted the head coaching job at Michigan. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3157227 Rodriguez leaving West Virginia to coach Michigan] ]

Controversies

Miles has generated some controversy in the media during his tenure at LSU. During LSU's "Recruiting Bash" in February 2007, he reportedly said the words "fucking Alabama" in reference to Alabama, which had recently hired Nick Saban, Miles' predecessor at LSU. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3088098 Tigers fans approach Saturday's showdown with mixed emotions] ] Later in the year, Miles angered the Pac 10 when he suggested that USC had an easier road to the BCS Championship Game than teams in other conferences, specifically LSU in the competitive SEC.

They’re going to play real knockdown, drag-outs with UCLA and Washington, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford — some real juggernauts....And they’re going to end up, it would be my guess, in some position so if they win a game or two, that they’ll end up in the title (game). I would like that path for us. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20203839/ Pac-10 smarting from LSU coach's criticism] ]

Head coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Oklahoma State Cowboys
conf=Big 12 Conference
startyear=2001
endyear=2004CFB Yearly Record Entry
year = 2001
name = Oklahoma State
overall = 4–7
conference = 2–6
confstanding = 5 - SouthCFB Yearly Record Entry
year = 2002
name = Oklahoma State
overall = 8–5
conference = 5–3
confstanding = 4 - South
bowlname = Houston
bowloutcome = W 33–23

CFB Yearly Record Entry
year = 2003
name = Oklahoma State
overall = 9–4
conference = 5–3
confstanding = 3 - South
bowlname = Cotton
bowloutcome = L 31–28CFB Yearly Record Entry
year = 2004
name = Oklahoma State
overall = 7–5
conference = 4–4
confstanding = 5 - South
bowlname = Alamo
bowloutcome = L 33–7CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name=Oklahoma State
overall=28–21
confrecord=16–16CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name=LSU Tigers
conf=Southeastern Conference
startyear=2005
endyear=CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = division
year = 2005
name = LSU
overall = 11–2
conference = 7–1
confstanding = 1 - West
bowlname = Peach
bowloutcome = W 40–3 Miami
ranking = 6
ranking2 = 5CFB Yearly Record Entry
year = 2006
name = LSU
overall = 11–2
conference = 6–2
confstanding = 2 - West
bowlname = Sugar
bcsbowl = yes
bowloutcome = W 41–14 Notre Dame
ranking = 3
ranking2 = 3CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = national
year = 2007
name = LSU
overall = 12–2
conference = 6–2
confstanding = 1 - West
bowlname = BCS NCG
bcsbowl = yes
bowloutcome = W 38-24 Ohio State
ranking = 1
ranking2 = 1CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2008
name = LSU
overall = "4–0"
conference = "2–0"
confstanding = "2^nd"
bowlname =
bowloutcome =
ranking = "3"
ranking2 = "4"CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name=LSU
overall=38–6
confrecord=21–5CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 66–27
bcs = yes


poll = two

References

External links

* [http://www.lesmiles.net/ Official Les Miles LSU website]
* [http://www.mreplay.com/search_result.php?search_id=Les+Miles&search_typ=search_videos Videos of Les Miles on mReplay]
* [http://www.lsufootballfreak.com/lsu_coach_les_miles.html Les Miles] facts and information.

Persondata
NAME=Miles, Les
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football coach and player
DATE OF BIRTH=November 10 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH=Elyria, Ohio
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=