Les Miles files lawsuit against LSU over costly vacated wins

Nov 27, 2014; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles on the sideline during the second quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Former LSU head coach Les Miles has filed a lawsuit against the school over the decision to vacate several years worth of his victories with the Tigers.

The lawsuit, which was filed in a Louisiana district court on Monday, alleges that LSU’s decision to vacate 37 wins from 2012-2015 cost Miles a chance to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The NCAA and National Football Foundation are also mentioned in the suit.

Coaches must have a career winning percentage of at least .600 to be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. When LSU announced last year that the 37 wins would be vacated over recruiting violations involving former All-SEC offensive lineman Vadal Alexander, Miles’ career record dropped to 108-73, which is .597.

Miles’ agent, George Bass, claims LSU promised to help remedy the situation but “went back on its word.”

Miles' lawsuit also lists the NCAA and the National Football Foundation, which manages the Hall of Fame, as defendants. His longtime agent George Bass said LSU "promised us help in undoing this injustice" and then "went back on its word."

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Miles is asking that the court declare that the vacated wins must be considered so he meets the .600 threshold for College Football Hall of Fame consideration.

Miles was the head coach at LSU from 2005-2016. He won a national championship with the Tigers in 2007. He then coached at Kansas for two seasons in 2019 and 2020 before the two sides parted ways over reports about questionable conduct from Miles during his LSU tenure.