Les Miles is a native of Elyria, Ohio, where he was born on November 10, 1953. He earned all-state honors in football at Elyria High School where he also earned letters in baseball and wrestling. He received a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan after graduating in 1976. The Miles family consists of Les’ wife Kathy, and children Kathryn, Leslie, Benjamin and Macy.
Miles was a two year letterman on the University of Michigan football team, where he played for legendary Coach Bo Schembechler. He played on two Big 10 Championship Teams as well as participating in the 1976 Orange Bowl. Miles returned to Michigan in 1980 to be an assistant coach to Schembechler. He left in 1982 to coach at the University of Colorado, where he coached offensive line on two teams that went to bowl games. As you can see, Les Miles knows about winning and about big time college football!!
Miles returned to Michigan in 1987. For the next eight straight seasons the Wolverines enjoyed winning seasons and bowl appearances. He served as an offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State from 1995-1997, after which he spent three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He returned to Oklahoma State University in 2001 as Head Football Coach.
In January of 2005, Miles replaced Nick Saban as the head coach of Louisiana State University. LSU won the 2005 SEC Western Division title with a 10-1 regular season record (lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship game). This was a particularly rewarding accomplishment, given the trauma the team faced from Hurricane Katrina, which struck south Louisiana days before Les was to take over the team at LSU. Despite this, LSU persevered and became somewhat of an inspiration for the struggling people of Louisiana and other fans of LSU.
The LSU Tigers aren’t the only team that Miles is proud to be a part of. Certainly he spends lots of time watching game film, scouting opponents and planning for LSU’s football season. But Les Miles is also a father and often attends Little League games and picks up his daughter from swim practices. Out there, he’s just another dad.
Les Miles and the Louisiana State Tigers wrapped up the 2006 football season with an 11-2 record. The Tigers did not win a division or conference (SEC) championship, but still (after their Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame) finished the 2006 season ranked #3 overall in both the AP and ESPN polls and their outlook for the 2007 season is promising.
Update: Promising indeed. Les Miles led his Tigers to the 2007 BCS National Championship -- defeating Ohio State in college football's National Championship game. Miles also spurned Michigan's attempt to lure him away from LSU.
For more information about Les Miles and LSU Football, see
2007 LSU Football and
LSU Tigers Football History
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