Oklahoma State University Athletics
Les Miles Recommended as OSU's 21st Head Football Coach
December 06, 2000 | Cowboy Football
Dec. 6, 2000
Listen to the Press Conference
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Les Miles, an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and Oklahoma State's offensive coordinator during the Alamo Bowl season of 1997, has been recommended to become the school's 21st Head Football Coach.
The recommendation was made by OSU Athletics Director Terry Don Phillips to the Board of Regents and submitted for action at a regularly scheduled meeting of the board later this week.
Miles will return to Oklahoma State after three seasons as Dallas' tight ends coach. He was Oklahoma State's offensive coordinator for three seasons prior to that, including the 1997 season when the Cowboys finished the regular season with an 8-3 record and accepted a bid to play in the Alamo Bowl.
During Miles' three previous seasons at Oklahoma State, the Cowboy offense produced near-record-setting numbers. The 1996 team had 4,295 total yards, an average of 390.5 per game. Those totals were the fourth-best in the history of OSU football. Two of the three years under Miles, the Cowboy offense had more than 4,000 total yards.
The 1997 Cowboy offense scored 332 points, the third-most in OSU history, and the Cowboys averaged 22.5 points per game in 1995, 22.0 in 1996 and 27.6 in 1997.
Success has followed Miles at every stop of both his playing and professional career. He was a two-year letterman at Michigan (1974-75). During those two seasons, Michigan was a combined 18-3-2, had final Associated Press national rankings in the top 10 and participated in both the Rose and Orange Bowls.
He joined Bo Schembechler's Michigan coaching staff in 1980 for the first of two stints as a coach in Ann Arbor. In 1980 and 1981, Michigan combined for 19 wins and just five losses, won the Big 10 title in 1980 and played in the Rose and Bluebonnet Bowls, respectively.
Miles left Michigan for Colorado, where he served on Bill McCartney's staff from 1982 through 1986. In his final two years at Colorado (1985 and 1986), the Buffs earned bids to the Freedom Bowl and Bluebonnet Bowl.
Prior to the 1987 season, he returned to Michigan, where he would spend the next eight years as part of one of the most successful eras in Michigan football history. From 1987 to 1994, Michigan won 71 games, made eight straight bowl appearances, including four trips to the Rose Bowl, and finished no lower than No. 21 in final Associated Press national rankings.
The 1989 Michigan squad finished 10-2, won the Big 10 championship and finished ranked No. 7. That would be Coach Bo Schembechler's final season as Michigan's head coach.
When Gary Moeller took over the Michigan program prior to the 1990 season, Miles remained on the staff. The 1990 team finished 9-3, winning the Big 10 title and the Gator Bowl. The following season (1991), Michigan finished 10-2 and with a No. 6 national ranking.
Miles coached some of the best players to wear the Michigan uniform, including eight first-team All-Americans, 10 total All-Americans and 12 players from Wolverine offensive lines that were NFL draftees.
He has worked with some of the most noted coaches in college football. At Michigan, he played for legendary coach Bo Schembechler and later served on Schembechler's staff. He also worked with Gary Moeller at Michigan and Bill McCartney at Colorado.
The Les Miles File
Age: 47
Playing Experience: Two-year letterman at Michigan. Played on Orange and Rose Bowl teams. Miles earned all-state honors in football at Elyria High School in Ohio and also earned letters in baseball and wrestling.
Coaching Experience: Three seasons coaching tight ends for Dallas Cowboys. Offensive coordinator at OSU from 1995-97. Coached offensive line at Michigan from 1980 to 1981 and 1987 through 1994. Coached offensive line at Colorado from 1982 to 1986. Coached on six Big 10 championship teams and 10 bowl teams at Michigan. Coached on two bowl teams at Colorado and one at Oklahoma State.
Personal: Born November 10, 1953. Earned his degree in economics from Michigan in 1976. Les and Kathy Miles have three children, Kathryn (6), Leslie Matthew (4) and Benjamin (2).
What They Say About Les Miles
"Les Miles has everything that you look for in a quality head coach. He has
experience, outstanding communication skills and an excellent ability to
work with people. In addition, I believe his No. 1 asset is his character.
He is a first-class person who treats his players and associates with class
and integrity. I have no doubt that he will do an excellent job as a head
coach at Oklahoma State, and we will miss him and his contributions to the
Dallas Cowboys."
Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys
"Les Miles is a football coach that players respect, and he is someone who
gets results. He is a very sound teacher of the game from a technical
standpoint, and I have always been impressed with his organizational skills.
I believe he will be successful at Oklahoma State because he is a winner.
He also knows how to recruit and do it the right way. We will miss Les. He
is a great person and a solid family man, and an excellent football coach."
Dave Campo, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
"I have a great deal of respect for the level of professionalism and pride
that Les brings to his work. He works hard and expects the same from his
players. I also appreciate the way he conducts himself. He believes in
doing things the right way -- and doing them with class and enthusiasm."
Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
"He's a good fit. He's got an Oklahoma State background and was successful
when he was there. He's always talked about how much he loved it there and I
know he is excited."
Larry Lacewell, Dallas Cowboys
Les Miles' Collegiate Record
| Year | School | Record | Bowl | Notes |
| 1980 | Michigan | 10-2 | Rose | Big 10 Champions |
| 1981 | Michigan | 9-3 | Bluebonnet | Ranked No. 12 |
| 1982 | Colorado | 2-8-1 | ||
| 1983 | Colorado | 4-7 | ||
| 1984 | Colorado | 1-10 | ||
| 1985 | Colorado | 7-5 | Freedom | |
| 1986 | Colorado | 6-6 | Bluebonnet | |
| 1987 | Michigan | 8-4 | Hall of Fame | Ranked No. 19 |
| 1988 | Michigan | 9-2-1 | Rose | Rose Bowl Champions |
| 1989 | Michigan | 10-2 | Rose | Big 10 Champions |
| 1990 | Michigan | 9-3 | Cotton | Cotton Bowl Champions |
| 1991 | Michigan | 10-2 | Rose | Big 12 Champions |
| 1992 | Michigan | 9-0-3 | Rose | Rose Bowl Champions |
| 1993 | Michigan | 8-4 | Hall of Fame | |
| 1994 | Michigan | 8-4 | Holiday | Holiday Bowl Champions |
| 1995 | Oklahoma State | 4-8 | ||
| 1996 | Oklahoma State | 5-6 | ||
| 1997 | Oklahoma State | 8-4 | Alamo | First OSU Bowl in nine years |
Oklahoma State Head Coaches
| Coach | Years | Record |
| Boyd A. Hill | 1901-05 | 3-12-5 |
| Ed Parry | 1906 | 1-4 -2 |
| Paul J. Davis | 1907-08 | 5-6 -1 |
| John G. Griffith | 1915-16 | 8-9 -1 |
| Earl A. Pritchard | 1917-18 | 8-7 -0 |
| James Pixlee | 1919-20 | 3-10-3 |
| John F. Maulbetsch | 1921-28 | 28-37-6 |
| Lynn O. Waldorf | 1929-33 | 34-10-7 |
| Albert A. Exendine | 1934-35 | 7-12-1 |
| Ted Cox | 1936-38 | 7-23-0 |
| Jim Lookabaugh | 1939-49 | 58-41-6 |
| J.B. Whitworth | 1950-54 | 22-27-2 |
| Cliff Speegle | 1955-62 | 36-42-3 |
| Phil Cutchin | 1963-68 | 19-38-2 |
| Floyd Gass | 1969-71 | 13-18-1 |
| Dave Smith | 1972 | 6-5 -0 |
| Jim Stanley | 1973-78 | 35-31-2 |
| Jimmy Johnson | 1979-83 | 30-25-2 |
| Pat Jones | 1984-94 | 62-60-3 |
| Bob Simmons | 1995-00 | 30-38-0 |
