The Dismissed Lawsuit And Hall Of Fame Snub: Where Is Les Miles Now In 2025?

Contents

The answer to "Where is Les Miles now?" in late 2025 is complex, shifting from a simple geographic location to a legal and historical battleground. The former national championship-winning coach, known for his eccentric charm and "Mad Hatter" moniker, is currently residing in Naples, Florida, but his public life is dominated by the fallout from his controversial coaching tenures at LSU and Kansas, culminating in a major legal defeat this year. His pursuit of a final career honor—induction into the College Football Hall of Fame—has been definitively blocked by a recent court ruling, forever linking his legacy not just to a title, but to a scandal.

As of this current date in December 2025, Les Miles remains out of coaching and is grappling with the permanent alteration of his professional record. The core of his present-day controversy centers on 37 vacated wins from his time at LSU, a penalty that dropped his career winning percentage below the mandatory threshold for Hall of Fame consideration. This unprecedented situation has cemented his status as one of college football's most polarizing figures, living in a retirement shadowed by an eligibility controversy that refuses to fade.

Leslie Edwin Miles: A Complete Biography and Career Profile

Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles is an American former college football coach whose career spanned four decades and included a national championship title. His coaching style, often characterized by unconventional play calls and a distinctive sideline demeanor, earned him the nickname "The Mad Hatter."

  • Full Name: Leslie Edwin Miles
  • Nickname: The Mad Hatter
  • Date of Birth: November 10, 1953 (Age 72 as of late 2025)
  • Place of Birth: Elyria, Ohio
  • Wife: Kathy Miles (m. 1980)
  • Children: Manny, Kathryn, Smacker, Ben (Ben Miles is currently coaching tight ends at Southern University)
  • Alma Mater: University of Michigan (B.S. in Economics, 1976)
  • Playing Career: Michigan Wolverines (Offensive Lineman, 1972–1975)
  • NFL Coaching Stint: Dallas Cowboys (Tight Ends Coach, 1998–2000)
  • Head Coaching Career:
    • Oklahoma State Cowboys (2001–2004)
    • LSU Tigers (2005–2016) - Won 2007 BCS National Championship
    • Kansas Jayhawks (2019–2021)
  • Official Career Record (Post-Vacation): 108–73 (.597)
  • Current Residence: Naples, Florida

Miles's tenure at LSU was the pinnacle of his career, highlighted by the 2007 BCS National Championship and two SEC titles. However, his final coaching job at Kansas ended abruptly in 2021 following the public release of a 2013 investigative report detailing sexual misconduct allegations from his time at LSU, which ultimately led to his separation from the Jayhawks program.

The Dismissal: Les Miles' Lawsuit Against LSU and the NCAA

The most significant update regarding Les Miles's current life is the outcome of his high-profile legal challenge. In a major blow to his legacy, a Louisiana judge dismissed his lawsuit against Louisiana State University (LSU), the NCAA, and the National Football Foundation (NFF) on March 24, 2025.

The Core of the Legal Challenge

Miles filed the federal lawsuit after LSU was forced to vacate 37 of his wins from the 2012 through 2015 seasons due to NCAA infractions related to a booster funneling money to the family of a former player. The NCAA's ruling, which was accepted by LSU, reduced Miles's official career record from 145–73 (.665) to 108–73 (.597).

The key issue is the College Football Hall of Fame (CFB HOF) eligibility requirement. To be considered for induction, a coach must have a career winning percentage of .600 or higher. The vacated wins dropped Miles's percentage just below this crucial threshold, effectively making him ineligible.

Judge's Decision and Implications

Miles’s lawsuit argued that LSU did not provide him with a fair opportunity to be heard before agreeing to vacate the wins, thus unjustly altering his career record and costing him a chance at the Hall of Fame. However, the Louisiana judge ruled in favor of the defendants, dismissing the case and upholding the NCAA's and LSU's decision.

This judicial decision has profound implications for Miles:

  • CFB Hall of Fame Status: He remains ineligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. The lawsuit was his last major public effort to restore the wins necessary for eligibility.
  • Final Career Record: The 108-73 record and the .597 winning percentage are now likely permanent, cementing his final standing in college football history.
  • Legal Precedent: The dismissal reinforces the power of the NCAA and universities to enforce penalties, even when they impact a coach's historical record and post-career honors.

Life After the Sidelines: Retirement in Naples and Family Ties

With the legal battle seemingly concluded, Les Miles's life has settled into a quiet retirement in Naples, Florida. This sunny, Gulf Coast city is a world away from the intense pressure of the SEC and the Big 12 sidelines, offering a stark contrast to his highly public career.

The Naples Lifestyle

Miles has largely retreated from the public eye since his departure from Kansas. While he was previously involved in some entertainment pursuits, such as acting and podcasting after his LSU firing, current reports suggest his primary focus is on family and personal life in Florida. He has been seen at various local events, but his presence is far less visible than during his coaching days.

Family’s Continuing Football Legacy

While Les Miles is no longer on the sidelines, the Miles family name continues to be active in college football. His son, Ben Miles, is currently coaching as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern University, working under former NFL star Marshall Faulk. This connection keeps the Miles family firmly rooted in the sport, even as the patriarch steps back.

The Scandal That Ended a Career: LSU and Kansas Fallout

The end of Miles's coaching career was precipitated by the resurfacing of a 2013 investigation into his conduct at LSU. This scandal remains a critical part of his legacy and the reason he is no longer coaching.

The LSU Allegations

The 2013 internal LSU report detailed allegations of inappropriate behavior with female student employees of the football operations program, including texting them, inviting them to his condo, and kissing a student worker. Although LSU initially concluded that Miles did not violate university policy, the public release of the report in 2021 led to a massive public outcry.

Departure from Kansas

The fallout from the LSU report's 2021 release was immediate and severe. The University of Kansas, where Miles had been head coach since 2019, agreed to part ways with him just days after the details became public. This separation marked the definitive end of Miles's head coaching career in college football. The circumstances of his departure, combined with the vacated wins, have created an indelible mark on his professional history.

In 2025, Les Miles is a man defined by a championship ring and a controversial asterisk. He is a retired coach in Florida whose final chapter is less about the X's and O's of football and more about court documents, eligibility rules, and the enduring debate over how to weigh a coach's on-field success against his off-field conduct and administrative penalties. The dismissal of his lawsuit confirms that his career record, and thus his Hall of Fame eligibility, is now a closed case, leaving the "Mad Hatter" to watch the game he loves from the sidelines of history.

where is les miles now
where is les miles now

Detail Author:

  • Name : Marie Trantow
  • Username : dstark
  • Email : gus.oconner@gmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1976-09-20
  • Address : 2852 Zboncak Mountains Suite 485 Nikolausbury, CT 27395
  • Phone : (803) 360-2712
  • Company : Jacobs, Morar and Boehm
  • Job : Skin Care Specialist
  • Bio : Magni qui aspernatur aut et enim et nemo. Sint blanditiis quam nihil nesciunt expedita autem. Minima tenetur eos eveniet voluptas facere omnis.

Socials

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/ebba_senger
  • username : ebba_senger
  • bio : Maiores fugit sed ea sed et porro. Deleniti voluptate tempore in corporis.
  • followers : 2106
  • following : 788

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/ebbasenger
  • username : ebbasenger
  • bio : Vitae et eveniet qui non tenetur reiciendis. Amet deleniti consequatur minus dolor dignissimos molestias. Voluptas minima soluta quia omnis quos.
  • followers : 429
  • following : 1398