Former LSU head football coach Les Miles has filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that the vacated wins from 2012-2015 are preventing him from being considered for the College Football Hall of Fame. The lawsuit seeks an “appropriate remedy” for the damage done to his reputation after 37 of his wins were vacated by the school during that timeframe, dropping his overall record below .600, which is a requirement for Hall of Fame consideration. The NCAA and National Football Foundation, who oversee the Hall of Fame, are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.
The vacated wins were a result of an NCAA investigation that uncovered a Level I recruiting violation during Miles’ tenure as head coach. The violation involved a representative of LSU athletics paying the father of a prospective athlete $180,150 over a five-year period in an embezzlement scheme. The athlete in question was enrolled at LSU from 2012-2016. Despite the circumstances, Miles was never given the opportunity to defend himself, and the lawsuit accuses the university of prematurely imposing the punishment without due process.
Miles, who turned 70 last November, would have been eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, but no Division I school he coached for, including Oklahoma State and Kansas, is believed to have nominated him for induction. With an overall record of .597, Miles is hoping to have his vacated wins restored in order to surpass the necessary threshold for consideration into the prestigious Hall. His coaching career began in 2001 with Oklahoma State, where he had a 28-21 record before becoming the head coach at LSU in 2005. During his time at LSU, Miles led the Tigers to two BCS Championship games, winning one in 2007. However, only 77 of his 114 wins with LSU count officially as of now.
Following his tenure at LSU, Miles was hired by the Kansas Jayhawks in 2019 to revitalize their football program. However, his time at Kansas was not successful, with a 3-18 record over two seasons, including an 0-9 campaign in 2020. Despite his struggles at Kansas, Miles is seeking to clear his name and regain his eligibility for the Hall of Fame. The lawsuit alleges that he was unfairly stripped of his credibility without being given the opportunity to present his case. It remains to be seen how Miles’ legal battle with LSU and the NCAA will unfold as he aims to restore his legacy in college football.
