According to ESPN, LSU has decided to part ways with head coach Les Miles after just four games in his 12th season. The decision was made after a very rough start this season, having an unimpressive 2-2 start in four games. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has also been relieved from the team as well. Miles will be replaced by interim head coach Ed Orgeron, who also found success as an interim coach at USC after Lane Kiffin was fired in 2013. In eight games, Orgeron led the Trojans to a 6-2 record.
BREAKING: LSU has fired coach Les Miles per @Mark_Schlabach & multiple reports, first reported by @theadvocatebr . pic.twitter.com/ouDJ6D6m7V
— ESPN (@espn) September 25, 2016
There was much speculation that the 2015 season would be the last for Les Miles. While having quality wins over Auburn, Florida, and Texas A&M, the Tigers went on a three-game losing streak towards the end of the season, losing to Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. They handed Texas Tech a dominating defeat in the Texas Bowl, helping Miles’ chances of remaining on the team. However, Miles was still on high alert regarding the status of his job, and the first few games of the 2016 season would determine if he could find comfort in staying on the team.
LSU was Miles’ second head coaching job, as he was given the position after four seasons as the coach of Oklahoma State. He was already placed in a pressured position, since he succeeded Nick Sabin, who won a BCS National Championship just two seasons prior. Miles was able to mirror the success of Sabin in 2007, winning a national championship two seasons after he started with the team by defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24.
Since then, LSU has been a consistent top team in the SEC conference, winning the conference championship after an undefeated 8-0 record in 2011. That same year, they were able to make it to the BCS National Championship game, but were shut out by Alabama 21-0.
The final straw was the aftermath of Saturday night’s game against Auburn. Trailing Auburn 13-18 with seconds left in the fourth quarter, quarterback Danny Etling executed a laser-like pass to wide receiver D.J. Clark. The LSU players, personnel, and fans celebrated in what seemed to keep their conference championship hopes alive. However, under review, the play was considered dead, as the ball was not snapped from the center in time.
Miles has been one of the most respected coaches in the SEC for the past dozen years, gaining 42 wins over ranked opponents during his tenure. On a couple of occasions, he was thought to be the primary prospect to coach the Michigan Wolverines. However, with Jim Harbaugh now filling that position, those considerations are no longer active. Despite this, Miles should have no worries in finding a head coaching position in the near future. At the very least, a coordinator position could be his next destination until a prominent head coaching position opens up.
[Featured Image by Chris Graythen/Getty Images]
