Former LSU football coach Les Miles has filed a lawsuit against the school, arguing that a 2023 decision to overturn the program’s 37 wins prevented him from consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame.
In addition to LSU, Miles also named the NCAA and the National Football Foundation (which operates the College Football Hall of Fame) as defendants. on the demand. According to the documents, Miles claims that vacating the school in which he had ownership rights cost him a Hall of Fame nomination. reports Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.
Miles coached LSU from 2005 to 2016, compiling an official record of 77-34 (unofficially 114-34) with a BCS national championship in 2007. He has the second-most coaching wins in school history behind Charlie McClendon .
In 2023, the school vacated 37 wins between 2012 and 2015 due to recruiting violations involving payments totaling nearly $200,000 to the father of offensive lineman Vadal Alexander by a former backup.
Alexander was ruled ineligible and LSU voided every win he played in as a self-imposed penalty.
Without those 37 wins, Miles’ overall record as a head coach changed to 108–73 (up from 145–73). That reduced his career winning percentage to .597, below the .600 threshold required for College Football Hall of Fame Eligibility.
“A coach is eligible three full seasons after his retirement or immediately after his retirement, as long as he is at least 70 years old. Active coaches are eligible at 75 years of age. Must have been a football coach for a minimum of 10 years and have coached in less than 100 games with a winning percentage of .600.”
Miles, 69, last coached in 2020 at Kansas, where he finished with a 3-18 record in two seasons. He and the school mutually decided to part ways in light of sexual harassment allegations from his time at LSU. During his coaching career, Miles also compiled a 28-21 record at Oklahoma State.
