Report: Les Miles Has 'Emerged as a Front-Runner' for Kansas Head Coach Job

Former Oklahoma State and LSU head coach Les Miles is reportedly the "front-runner" for the vacant Kansas position, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic:

Kansas fired head coach David Beaty on Sunday. Beaty, who has gone just 6-39 since taking over the position prior to the 2015 season, will finish out the year.

Miles has an impressive resume. After going 28-21 at Oklahoma State (2001-04) and leading the Cowboys to three bowl games, he took over at LSU before the 2005 campaign and stayed there for 11-plus seasons. Under Miles, the Tigers went 114-34, went to 11 straight bowl games, winning seven, and were national champions in the 2007 season.

To put that in perspective, Kansas has played in three bowl games in total since 2005 and just four overall since the Big Eight Conference became the Big 12 in 1996. The Jayhawks haven't had a winning season since 2008 under Mark Mangino.

Miles won't be the only candidate, however. On Monday, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports listed NC State's Dave Doeren, Troy's Neal Brown, Appalachian State's Scott Satterfield, Toledo's Jason Candle, Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, Army's Jeff Monken, Los Angeles Rams offensive analyst Jedd Fisch, Tulane's Willie Fritz and Eastern Michigan's Chris Creighton as potential candidates.

Miles topped the list, however. As Dodd wrote:

"His connections are too obvious to ignore. He and [Kansas athletic director Jeff Long] worked together at Michigan as assistant coach and associate AD, respectively, from 1988-94. Miles has plenty of Big 12 experience having coached Oklahoma State from 2001-04. He would bring immediate credibility as a coach, recruiter and face of the program with no NCAA baggage. Miles, who turns 65 on Saturday, is interested, but there has been no contact between he and Long."

Given that Miles has continued to come up in connection with Kansas' head-coaching gig, it seems there may be some interest, and he is likely the leader for the position, at least for the time being.