| Advertisement |
March 9 (UPI) -- Kansas and football coach Les Miles have mutually agreed to part ways amid accusations that Miles behaved inappropriately toward female students during his time at LSU. The University of Kansas announced the move Monday. Kansas had placed Miles on administrative leave Friday and said it would conduct a review to determine his future with the football program.
Advertisement
"This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family," Miles said in a news release. "I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived.
"To our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play for KU and earn a degree here. So I implore you to stay and build on what we started and do all of the things we talked about doing together. There is a bright future for all of you and for KU football."
Last week, two law firms released reports on behalf of Louisiana State University, which showed that a 2013 internal investigation accused Miles of inappropriate behavior. Miles was accused of contacting female students through Facebook and text messages, meeting them off-campus and kissing at least one of them.
The reports described failures by LSU to adequately report the incidents. The former LSU athletic director recommended Miles be fired in 2013.
Miles has denied kissing the student and any further wrongdoing. LSU fired Miles in 2016 when the Tigers started the season at 2-2. Miles compiled a 114-34 record and won a national championship in 12 years at the school.
Kansas hired Miles in 2018.
"I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program," Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a news release. "There is a lot of young talent on this football team, and I have no doubt we will identify the right individual to lead this program.
"We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we're going to do."
The Jayhawks were 0-9 last season. They went 3-9 in Miles' first season in 2019. Mike DeBord will continue to serve as acting head football coach as Kansas searches for an interim coach.
