Former LSU head football coach Les Miles was placed on administrative leave from his coaching job at the University of Kansas on Friday, after a report released that day showed a pattern of "inappropriate behavior" with female students at LSU.
Kansas athletic director Jeff Long announced in a statement Friday evening that Miles was placed on administrative leave "as we conduct a full review to determine the appropriate next steps."
No timeline was given of when a final decision would be made, and Long noted that Kansas officials have only been able to access the reports on the allegations against Miles in the last two days.
"Even though the allegations against him occurred at LSU, we take these matters very seriously at KU," Long said in the statement. "Now that we have access to this information, we will take the coming days to fully review the material and to see if any additional information is available. I do not want to speculate on a timeline for our review because it is imperative we do our due diligence. We will be able to comment further once our review is complete.”
In the report from law firm Husch Blackwell that was commissioned by LSU, former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended firing Miles in 2013 because of allegations of sexual harassment.
The months-long probe prompted multiple staffing and policy changes at LSU. Interim President Tom Galligan announced Friday morning that the university is suspending without pay executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry and senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar based on the findings.
The review also disclosed that Miles had been investigated by the LSU-hired Taylor Porter law firm in 2013, as recent news reports revealed. The firm turned up emails that showed Alleva, the athletic department's highest-ranking official, felt Miles should be fired based upon that investigation.
Miles had been accused of kissing a female student twice, "unwanted touching," telling her he was attracted to her and suggesting that they go to a hotel or to his condo together. Miles has repeatedly denied kissing the student or any other inappropriate behavior. Some of the other allegations in the Taylor Porter investigation remain secret; they are completely redacted.
Several LSU athletic department employees also told Taylor Porter that Miles insisted that LSU hire “attractive, blonde, fit” female students to work in recruiting. Miles was eventually forbidden from having one-on-one meetings or interactions with student employees.
But Alleva's recommendation to fire Miles -- who was riding high at the time and had just received a new six-year contract -- landed flat. The coach was terminated not for misconduct, but disappointing results on the field, early in the 2016 season.
In 2013, his supervisors directed him to stop texting, calling and messaging student employees. LSU also ordered the coach to stop hiring female students to babysit his children and to stop being alone with them. He was also made to attend eight one-hour sessions that he had to pay for and attend with an attorney.
But Alleva, who was ousted by LSU in 2019, made clear that he felt there should've been greater consequences.
"I think his continued employment needs to be seriously considered," Alleva wrote in an email to former LSU Chancellor William Jenkins on April 19, 2013. "When reviewing the use of a secret personal phone, the text messages, the fact that I had already advised him against such behavior, the evening meeting off campus, etc. it gives me great concern for the future."
Husch Blackwell investigators were unable to locate a response to that email. Alleva has not returned messages for several weeks.
Alleva also sent an email to former LSU President F. King Alexander on June 21, 2013, in which he said he believed people are "innocent until proven guilty," but "in this case I believe (Miles) is guilty of insubordination, inappropriate behavior, putting the university, athletic dept and football program at great risk.
"I think we have cause," Alleva added. "I specifically told him not to text, call or be alone with any student workers and he obviously didn't listen. I know there are many possible outcomes and much risk either way, but I believe it is in the best interest in the long run to make a break."
Husch Blackwell investigators also were unable to find a response to that email.
