| Les Miles | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Title | Head coach | |
| College | LSU | |
| Sport | Football | |
| Conference | SEC | |
| Team record | 50–14 (.781) | |
| Born | November 10, 1953 | |
| Place of birth |  Elyria, Ohio |
|
| Career highlights | ||
| Overall | 76–33 (.697) | |
| Bowls | 5–2 | |
| Coaching stats | ||
| College Football DataWarehouse | ||
| Championships | ||
| 1 National (2007) 1 SEC (2007) 2 SEC Western Division (2005, 2007) |
||
| Playing career | ||
| 1974-1975 | Michigan | |
| Position | Offensive lineman | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1980-1981 1982-1986 1987-1994 1995-1997 1998-2000 2001-2004 2005-present |
Michigan (GA) Colorado (OL) Michigan (OL) Oklahoma State (OC) Dallas Cowboys (TE) Oklahoma State LSU |
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Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles (born November 10, 1953 in Elyria, Ohio) is 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.
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Contents
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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.[1] 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
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's 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's 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 Classic).
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 teams performance during his second year, Miles was named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2002.
During Miles's third season, however, Miles had the OSU football team ranked #13 in the nation with a 7-1 record. Looking for his third straight upset of the Sooners, Miles made several comments prior to the game to ruffle the feathers of Sooner's coach Bob Stoops. During the week, Oklahoma State coach Les Miles said the Sooners were the nation's best team or "so we are told." He also made the comment the day before the game, "Tomorrow, two football teams will meet and one is ranked #1 in the country and the other is a pretty darn good football team. We will play to find out which one's which." Then, as he was interviewed by Lynn Swan on the field prior to kickoff, when asked about his team's emotional state, Miles indicated that it has to be controlled, but more often than not, "just let 'er rip!"
Miles's Cowboys lost to the #1 Sooners that day in Norman 52-9. Oklahoma State's celebrated trio of quarterback Josh Fields, running back Tatum Bell and receiver Rashaun Woods couldn't do much against the Sooners when the game was still competitive. "All week the whole talk was about their offense," Stoops said. "You would have never thought we played any defense around here."
Oklahoma State's only touchdown came on Darrent Williams' 11-yard return of an interception 26 seconds into the third quarter.
In Miles's fourth and final season with the Cowboys, his Cowboys played a more competitive game with the Sooners in Stillwater, losing 35-38. Les Miles ended his career at OSU 2-2 against the Sooners. This was an impressive feat, considering Oklahoma State's overall record vs. OU is 16-79-7.
LSU
n 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 southern 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. 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. However, the regular season ended with a loss to Arkansas in Baton Rouge. Coincidentally, the 2008 regular season also ended with a loss to Arkansas in Little Rock in a game marked by several of Miles' hallmark unconventional calls. 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.[2] 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, 38-24, giving Les Miles his first national championship and LSU its third.
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.
The Mad Hatter
During the 2007 season, Miles received the nickname "The Mad Hatter," in reference to his risky play calling, outspoken nature and defiant attitude. The nickname is also a reference to his trademark white team baseball cap, which he has worn all through his coaching career. In response to his critically acclaimed playcalling, Miles stated that "if you have playmakers, you're obligated to turn them loose."
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 incorrectly 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.”[4]
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.[5] 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." [6] 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.[7]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12 Conference) (2001–2004) | |||||||||
| 2001 | Oklahoma State | 4–7 | 2–6 | 5th (South) | |||||
| 2002 | Oklahoma State | 8–5 | 5–3 | 4th (South) | W Houston | ||||
| 2003 | Oklahoma State | 9–4 | 5–3 | 3rd (South) | L Cotton | ||||
| 2004 | Oklahoma State | 7–5 | 4–4 | 5th (South) | L Alamo | ||||
| Oklahoma State: | 28–21 | 16–16 | |||||||
| LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2005–present) | |||||||||
| 2005 | LSU | 11–2 | 7–1 | 1st (West) | W Chick-fil-A | 6 | 5 | ||
| 2006 | LSU | 11–2 | 6–2 | 2nd (West) | W Sugar † | 3 | 3 | ||
| 2007 | LSU | 12–2 | 6–2 | 1st (West) | W BCS NCG † | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2008 | LSU | 8–5 | 3–5 | 3rd (West) | W Chick-fil-A | ||||
| 2009 | LSU | 9–4 | 5–3 | 2nd (West) | L Capital One Bowl | 12 | 13 | ||
| LSU: | 51–14 | 27–13 | |||||||
| Total: | 79–35 | ||||||||
| National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title | |||||||||
| †Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll. |
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References
- ^ Les Miles Biography
- ^ a b Source: Miles will remain coach at LSU
- ^ "Les Miles expected to shun Michigan, has agreement to stay at LSU". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071201/SPORTS06/71201011. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
- ^ "This Is The Place I Want To Be". The Advocate. http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/12026681.html. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
- ^ Michigan contacted LSU coach Les Miles last week
- ^ Miles: 'I'll say it again, I'm going to be the coach at LSU'
- ^ Rodriguez leaving West Virginia to coach Michigan
External links
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Les Miles |
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Oklahoma State University Head Football Coach 2001–2004 |
Succeeded by Mike Gundy |
| Preceded by Nick Saban |
LSU Tigers Head Football Coach 2005–present |
Succeeded by current |
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