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Houston, Les Miles Showing Mutual Interest Over Head Coaching Position
Houston has expressed interested in speaking with Les Miles about its head coach opening, which would combine a program and coach who know how to win.
November 30, 2016
Houston has expressed interested in speaking with Les Miles about its head coach opening, which would combine a program and coach who both know how to win.
The coaching carousel has begun, and one man looking for his next stop is Les Miles, who was dismissed from LSU back in September after 11-plus years leading the Tigers.
With Tom Herman leaving Houston for Texas, the Cougars have an opening and seem interested in bringing in Miles.
“He’s on the list,” Tilman Fertitta, the chairman of the University of Houston Board of Regents, said. “I think we have interest in him and he has interest in us.”
With Miles, Houston would bring in a coach that led LSU to a 114-34 record, the 2007 BCS National Championship, and two SEC titles. He also has a knowledge of the state of Texas, having pulled many players from the Lone Star State to Baton Rouge. Miles’ experience at Oklahoma State, where he was the head coach from 2001-2004, also helped him gain experience and develop relationships in the state, which is one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country. Given the close proximity to Louisiana, Miles could essentially retain the same recruiting landscape he possessed while at LSU.
In Miles, the Cougars would also land a coach that isn’t looking for the next step, which is how three of its last four coaches (Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, and Tom Herman) viewed the job: a resume builder. Miles, who turned 63 in November, is most likely looking for his last coaching stop after a career that started back in 1980 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Michigan.
In Houston, Miles would take over a program in a good situation that possesses loads of talent on both sides of the ball. Rebuilding a program such as Purdue who is also interested in Miles, takes time, and is something that he may want to avoid at his age.
The job would also offer Miles a chance at redemption. He was toyed with by LSU athletic director Joe Alleva at the end of the 2015 season before being unceremoniously fired after a 2-2 start this year. Miles, who was beloved by his players and by Tigers fans, took the high road and wished nothing but the best to LSU after his dismissal.
In the end, it would be a great match for both Miles and Houston, as both have shown that they are serious about winning and committing to long-term success. Just one question: how does the grass at TDECU Stadium taste?
