LSU’s football program has been hit with an NCAA infractions decision that includes vacating 37 wins under former coach Les Miles. This penalty reduces Miles’ official career record from 145-73 (.665) to 108-73 (.597), which means he no longer meets the .600 career win percentage needed to qualify for the College Football Hall of Fame.
The NCAA penalties stem from a scandal involving former offensive lineman Vadal Alexander, who played for the Tigers from 2012 to 2015. Alexander was retroactively rendered ineligible because his father received $180,150 from a booster who embezzled funds from a Baton Rouge children’s hospital.
LSU had previously self-imposed a postseason ban and scholarship reductions in 2020. The additional penalty handed down on Thursday came through the resolution of an NCAA Independent Accountability Resolution Panel case that primarily focused on former men’s basketball coach Will Wade.
According to the criteria set by the College Football Hall of Fame, a coach becomes eligible to be considered for selection three years after retirement or at 70 years old, having coached for at least 10 years and 100 games with a .600 winning percentage. The Hall recognizes the coach’s official NCAA record.
Les Miles, who is now 69 years old, has been out of coaching since 2021 when he was let go by Kansas following allegations of sexual misconduct while at LSU.
Miles had a successful coaching career, spending four seasons at Oklahoma State before moving to LSU, where he spent 12 seasons. He won a national title in 2007 and played for another in 2011. Miles had a strong record, winning at least 10 games in seven of his first nine seasons and producing five top-10 teams.
However, in 2021, a university-commissioned investigation uncovered previously unreported sexual harassment allegations against Miles by a student assistant. LSU’s athletic director at the time, Joe Alleva, recommended in 2013 that Miles be terminated, but he was allowed to keep his job. LSU eventually fired Miles in September 2016 after a 2-2 start to the season.
Miles then moved on to Kansas, where he had a less successful tenure, going 3-18 in two seasons. The school and Miles parted ways after the LSU report was made public.
The NCAA infractions decision and the vacating of wins have dealt a blow to Miles’ chances of being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. With his career win percentage falling below the required threshold, his eligibility for the prestigious honor is now in question.
(Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
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What were the consequences imposed by the NCAA on LSU’s football program in relation to former coach Les Miles?
LSU’s football program has recently faced consequences from the NCAA due to infractions related to former coach Les Miles. As a result, the program will have to vacate 37 wins that occurred during Miles’ tenure. This decision not only affects the team’s record but also has a significant impact on Miles’ career statistics, reducing his official record from 145-73 (.665) to 108-73 (.597).
This alteration in record means that Miles no longer meets the requirements for a .600 career win percentage, ultimately disqualifying him from being eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. The penalties imposed by the NCAA are a direct outcome of a scandal involving former LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander, who played for the Tigers from 2012 to 2015.
The scandal involves Alexander’s father receiving $180,150 from a booster who had embezzled funds from a Baton Rouge children’s hospital. The NCAA has retroactively rendered Alexander ineligible due to his father’s inappropriate transactions, leading to these severe consequences for the LSU football program.
It is worth mentioning that LSU had already taken some steps to address these infractions. In 2020, the university self-imposed a postseason ban and implemented scholarship reductions. However, despite these measures, an additional penalty was still imposed on Thursday through the resolution of an NCAA Independent Accountability Resolution Panel.
This decision serves as a reminder of the importance of compliance and ethical conduct within college football programs. The NCAA’s actions aim to hold institutions accountable for any misconduct, ensuring the integrity of the sport is upheld. While these penalties may be challenging for LSU and its former coach Les Miles, they serve as a stern message to all college football programs that rules and regulations must be respected to maintain the reputation and fairness of the game.
It’s a disappointing turn of events for a legendary coach like Les Miles. His eligibility for the College Football Hall of Fame now hangs in the balance due to NCAA infractions. A tarnished legacy looms over an otherwise successful career.
“Such a shame to see a storied coach like Les Miles’ eligibility potentially jeopardized. Let’s hope justice is served fairly and his contributions to LSU football are duly recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame.”