The University of Kansas “mutually parted ways” with football coach Les Miles late Monday night after an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct during his time at LSU was made public.
Miles lasted just two seasons at Kansas, going a dismal 3-18 with a winless season in 2020. In the lead-up to Miles’ dismissal, much of the attention focused on Kansas athletic director Jeff Long who hired Miles after a considerably limited search before the 2019 season.
Given that the investigation took place in 2013, it would have been reasonable to expect Long to come across the alleged misconduct at LSU if he had seriously looked into Miles’ past at all.
On Tuesday, Long was asked in a press conference directly about how thoroughly he vetted Miles in the hiring process. And, well, his answer was not great.
#Kansas AD Jeff Long: "We ran multiple background checks on Coach Miles" before hiring him in 2018. He says he directly asked Miles if there was anything in his background that could embarrass the school. Received "no indications" of issues.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) March 9, 2021
Long said that he asked Miles if he had done anything in the past that could potentially embarrass KU — as if Miles’ word was reliable. Unsurprisingly, that answer did not help Long’s cause at all.
ah well i guess that settles it https://t.co/SBlpIhO28a
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) March 9, 2021
"He said he was cool so…" https://t.co/mOdsP3a79o
— Bort (@SenatorGiggity) March 9, 2021
Jeff Long didn't do his homework. https://t.co/hXj2RyiKYk
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 9, 2021
These people truly believe we’re all stupid. https://t.co/lwGR9AfGYQ
— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) March 9, 2021
…because les miles doesn't think he did anything wrong. https://t.co/xZC3L8Z73Q
— Jasmyn Wimbish (@JasmynWimbish) March 9, 2021
I know everyone gets on search firms, but the most impressive grifters in college football coaching searches are absolutely the background checkers https://t.co/rX1dmwxj3k
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (@RJ_Writes) March 9, 2021
les miles lied, and will still get broke off some of that sweet settlement money. https://t.co/JvBQfnVM05
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) March 9, 2021
— Students of KU (@StudentsofKU) March 9, 2021
“I directly asked the murderer if he did it, and he said ‘no.’ so I believed him” https://t.co/lidMRauBs1
— Michael Bartlemay (@Bmay93) March 9, 2021
Despite the massive failure of the Miles hire, Long will still lead this latest coaching search for a Kansas football program that last posted a winning season in 2008.
