(espn/ku) Les Miles is out as Kansas’ head football coach three days after he was placed on administrative leave amid accusations of inappropriate behavior toward female students during his head-coaching tenure at LSU.
Kansas athletic director Jeff Long on Friday said the university would be conducting a full review to determine the appropriate steps on Miles’ future, and late Monday evening announced that they had “mutually agreed to part ways.”
Long said the school will use a search firm to assist in finding Miles’ successor. Long did not use a search firm when he hired Miles, a friend from their time together at Michigan in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Mike DeBord, who was hired last month as Kansas’ offensive coordinator, will serve as the program’s acting head coach until an interim head coach is determined.
Miles had three years left on a five-year contract he signed with Kansas in November 2018.
Statement from Director of Athletics Jeff Long:
“I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program. 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.”
Statement from Former Head Football Coach Les Miles:
“This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family. 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.”
