Coaching Changes: Les Miles Out at Kansas, AD Long Also Gone

March 12, 2021 by Staff

The mess at Kansas came to a head on Tuesday, March 8 when head coach Les Miles and Kansas agreed to part ways. Two days later, athletic director Jeff Long also agreed to leave. On Thursday, the school named Emmett Jones, a three-year assistant with the program, as interim head coach. It also appointed booster, Kurt Watson as interim AD.

Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord had been serving as 'acting' head coach ever since Miles was put on administrative leave two days prior. DeBord was among those interviewed for the interim position.

The dust-up began when USA Today uncovered previous allegations of misconduct by Miles at LSU, centered around complaints by female students. After an internal investigation at LSU was concluded in 2013, then-athletic director Joe Aleva recommended Miles be fired but the school instead reportedly banned him from communicating with, or being alone with, female students.

Miles was fired 3 years later after a 2-2 start to the 2016 football season. Kansas was 0-9 last season under Miles and just 3-18 in his two seasons in Lawrence. His teams were 1-16 in Big 12 play.

For his career, Miles won-loss record is 145-73 overall. He was the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2001-2004 before leaving to replace Nick Saban at LSU in 2005 after Saban became the head coach for the NFL's Miami Dolphins.