Kansas might be the worst football program among college football’s Power 5 conferences. While schools like Oregon State and Rutgers have a claim to that title as well, the Jayhawks are in the sport’s purgatory — basketball is king in Lawrence, and the program has no natural recruiting base from which to grab talent. As proof of this, since its magical 2007 campaign in which the team went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl, Kansas has made one bowl game and hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2009.
The school announced a looming coaching change earlier this month, when it was revealed that David Beaty’s fourth year will be his last. After weeks of speculation as to who will take over, it looks like Kansas is swinging for the fences, bringing former national title-winning coach Les Miles to lead the program.
According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the two sides are working to finalize a deal that will bring Miles back to the coaching ranks for the first time since 2016, when he was fired by LSU after four games. Miles was the Tigers’ head coach for more than a decade, accruing a 114-34 record in Baton Rouge with a 62-28 mark in conference play. LSU won at least 10 games seven times during Miles’ tenure, and in 2007, the team went 12-2 and beat Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.
Overall, Miles is 141-55 as a head coach, as he was in charge at Oklahoma State from 2001-04. While there are legitimate questions about whether the 65-year-old Miles is still the coach he was during his heyday, he brings a big name, some legitimacy, and one of the most unique personalities in the sport to a program that needs a shot in the arm. As for when we can expect word on this becoming official, Dellenger reported that an announcement could come as soon as this weekend.
(Via Sports Illustrated)
