Oklahoma State University Athletics
Les Miles Named Big 12 Coach of the Year
April 14, 2003 | Cowboy Football
Miles just completed his second regular season and has the Cowboys headed for their first bowl appearance since 1997. OSU finished the 2002 regular season with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in Big 12 play. The Cowboys finished tied for third in the South Division.
OSU's second season under Miles was a memorable one. The former offensive coordinator at OSU (1995-97) became the first football coach in OSU history to post victories over Nebraska and Oklahoma in the same season.
Miles and his staff stayed the course through a bumpy start. The Cowboys were 2-4 midway through the 2002 regular season. Back-to-back wins over Nebraska and Texas A&M righted the ship and the Cowboys would go on to win five of their final six regular season games, including a 38-28 win over Oklahoma in the season finale.
It was the second straight year a Miles-coached OSU team has beaten Oklahoma and the five-out-of-six finish is the best since 1988 when the Cowboys won five of their final six regular season games before posting a 62-14 win over Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl.
Miles was flattered by the award. "I know there are a lot of deserving guys and a lot of guys who could make a case for their position. I'm very fortunate to have a great staff and a group of guys who love to play," he said.
Miles and the Cowboys are awaiting a decision on where they will appear in bowl game. The complete bowl scenario for Big 12 Conference teams should clarify after the BCS has made its bowl selections Sunday afternoon.
