Before transforming into one of the FBS’s most promising college football programs, the Kansas Jayhawks endured over a decade of dismal performances. Leading up to Lance Leipold’s tenure as head coach, the final leader at KU was Les Miles, a seasoned coach celebrated for securing a national championship with LSU.
Despite his accolades, Miles’ time in Lawrence was marked by profound struggles, winning only three games over two years and overseeing one of the program’s worst seasons. His departure came swiftly after reports emerged of alleged improper sexual conduct with a former LSU student during his coaching tenure there, effectively ending his NCAA coaching career.
Interesting in the Les Miles lawsuit. It says LSU "deprived" him of College Football Hall of Fame eligibility. Miles is at .5966 (.600 is needed for the hall) counting 37 vacated wins at LSU. He was 3-18 at Kansas. If he had won one more game — 1! — at Kansas (4-17 instead of…
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) June 17, 2024
Recently, Miles made headlines again for controversial reasons. He filed a lawsuit against LSU, claiming they unjustly prevented him from entering the College Football Hall of Fame. This contention arose because LSU vacated 37 wins from Miles’ record due to violations during his coaching tenure from 2012 to 2015. These vacated wins left Miles just 0.0034% short of meeting the Hall of Fame criteria for a .600 career win percentage.
Despite these legal maneuvers, Miles’ legacy remains tarnished by a history of scandals and controversies. His tenure at Kansas, while regrettable for the program, ultimately led to the hiring of Lance Leipold, a move widely supported by Jayhawks fans as a positive step forward.
