Les Miles to Remain as LSU Head Coach

Longtime LSU head coach Les Miles was reportedly on the hot seat heading into the Tigers' final regular-season game. However, his job appears to be safe.

Continue for updates.

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LSU AD Alleva Confirms Miles to Remain at LSU

Saturday, Nov. 28 

"Les Miles is our football coach, and he will continue to be our football coach," said LSU athletic director Joe Alleva after the Tigers' win over Texas A&M, per ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

Joe Schad of ESPN reported the decision to retain Miles was made during the third quarter of Saturday's game. Schad added, "LSU decision makers felt media had swayed public and if Miles was fired school would have appeared mean-spirited, per source."

Alleva originally told reporters he wouldn't comment on Miles' job status until after the season, per Pat Smith of the Paul Finebaum Radio Network on Nov. 21. 

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LSU Denies Reports of Miles' Resignation

Friday, Nov. 27 

"Contrary to media reports, LSU coach Les Miles has not resigned nor did he indicate he was resigning when speaking to booster group today," LSU said in a statement on Twitter. 

Earlier in the day, Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune reported Miles told boosters Saturday's game against Texas A&M would be his last as the Tigers coach:

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"He didn't use those words but he made it clear that Saturday is his last game," one Gridiron Club member said. Miles regularly speaks to the club at lunch on Fridays before all home games.

"He said, 'We're a second family to him and he's going to miss us, he appreciates his real friends, and then he told us goodbye,'" the source said. "It was very emotional but in control."

Miles reportedly left to a standing ovation.

Another source said Miles told the group he "wouldn't be seeing them at the bowl game, he would "always be a Tiger" and "thanks for a great 11 years."

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Ross Dellenger of the Advocate reported Miles denied having indicated it would be his last game at LSU. 

"Heck no," Miles said, per Dellenger.  

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Conflicting Reports Surround Miles' Future in Baton Rouge

Monday, Nov. 23

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reported that LSU is "prepared" to fire Miles but added that although the matter is being discussed, no final decision has been made. Feldman said sources at LSU were "surprised and very skeptical" regarding reports Miles would be fired today.

Earlier, Chandler Rome of the Advocate passed along comments from Joe Schad of ESPN.com, who said the situation with Miles "could be resolved today." Schad, via Rome, passed along comments from a source who said, "In Louisiana, we expect to compete for national championships. He's not doing that."

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Buyout Reportedly Won't Prevent LSU from Moving On from Miles

Sunday, Nov. 22

Smith, citing "a highly ranked source," reported, "The $15 million dollar buyout clause in Miles' contract will not be a hindrance for [Tiger Athletic Foundation], the football program's powerful booster club."

Smith added, "Support of Miles among TAF members had been split for some time. Many senior members disagreed with the extension given to him two years ago. ... The vast majority now believes it is time to cut ties with Miles and hire a new head coach before the program loses any more momentum."

Smith also reported Miles met with officials last week to discuss how and when the two sides would part ways. Miles reportedly suggested a retirement following the 2016 season, but Smith noted, "Some TAF members prefer to pull the trigger now, citing the potential corrosive effects a lame-duck coach could have on recruiting, staff procurement and organizational momentum."

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LSU Board of Supervisors Member Comments on Miles' Status

Saturday, Nov. 21

LSU Board of Supervisors member Ronald Anderson explained Miles' status may be evaluated regardless of how the Tigers close out the season, per USA Today's Glenn Guilbeau:

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I think if he wins the next two games, it’s still something that needs to be looked at. It’s the way they lost the two games.

If he wins them both, that complicates it. That’s my opinion. It’s not just the number of losses, but the quality of the losses. The next two games are really important to deciding the future of the program. And you’ve got to look at the progress of the program from the standpoint of a number of years.

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Miles Faced Pressure Despite Consistent Success

Miles took over the LSU program ahead of the 2005 season. He's led the Tigers to a bowl game in every season and never finished with a record worse than 8-5. 

There are consistent championship expectations at LSU, though. So the fact he's led the team to just two championship game appearances and one title is starting to work against him after the fans watched another opportunity slip away in recent weeks.

Miles' job status added plenty of drama and tension to LSU's final game against Texas A&M, but it ended quickly after the game. That's only a good thing for this program, filled with players who clearly support Miles and the next batch of recruits who are eager to play under his tutelage.