LSU Tigers

Les Miles is Really Gone: Looking Back at His Tenure at LSU

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The rumors that emerged on Sunday afternoon were confirmed today. Les Miles is indeed out at LSU. So too is Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. In their stead, Ed Orgeron has ascended to the position of Interim Head Coach. In this article we will give you a recap of Miles’s tenure and accomplishments at LSU, before turning our eyes to the future.

The Les Miles Era: 2005-2016

2005

Les Miles arrived prior to the 2005 season. He came in from Oklahoma State, somewhat poorly regarded. During  his time with the Cowboys his teams were an uninspiring 28-21 overall and just 16-16 in conference play. Nevertheless, he was the man tasked with filling the shoes Nick Saban left behind.

That 2005 season would prove to be a successful one. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Les Miles and the Tigers became something that Tiger fans could smile about. A light in the darkness. The Tigers would finish the season as SEC West Champions, with an 11-2 record.

2006

Then, in 2006, the Tigers had another great season. Again, they finished 11-2. Though this team that record was only good enough for third place in a stacked SEC West. Nevertheless, the Tigers were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl, in which they thrashed Notre Dame 41-14.

2007

In 2007, the Tigers won the BCS National Championship over Ohio State in New Orleans. The Tigers finished the regular season with two losses, both in triple overtime. LSU won the SEC West and played Tennessee for the conference title. The Tigers won 21-14. Then, it was on to New Orleans, where the Tigers faced the number one team in the country. The Tigers defeated the Buckeyes by a score of 38-24, and Les Miles hoisted the crystal football high in the air.

2008

The 2008 season was a definite step back for LSU. The Tigers went 8-5 overall and just 3-5 in the SEC. Fortunately for Les, his national championship bought him several years worth of leeway. Nevertheless, the ascendance of Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide to the top of the West did not sit well with the Tiger faithful.

2009

In 2009, the Tigers began the rebuilding process by going 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference. That record was good enough for a second place finish in the SEC West. The Tigers dropped a close one to Penn State in the Citrus Bowl to end their season.

2010

In 2010, the upward trend continued for the Tigers. They finished the season 11-2, which netted them a second place finish in the SEC West for the second year in a row. The Tigers would go on to trounce Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl to set up high expectations for the next season.

2011

And for the most part, the Tigers lived up to those expectations. They finished the regular season undefeated, including a narrow 9-6 overtime victory over Alabama. They then proceeded to spank Georgia 42-10 and claim a second SEC title for Les Miles. The Tigers looked poised to win another national title. But it didn’t happen. The Tigers were demolished 21-0 in a rematch against the hated Crimson Tide.

2012

Sep 17, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Mississippi State 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, the Tigers finished second in the SEC West behind Alabama. They finished the season with a 10-3 record. They lost to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

2013

In 2013, the Tigers would again finish 10-3. However, this time they ended on a high note. LSU defeated Iowa in the Outback Bowl 21-14.

2014

During the 2014 season, the Tigers took a couple of steps back. They finished with an 8-5 record and were 4-4 in the SEC. This caused them to finish fourth in the SEC West. This was the lowest SEC West finish in Miles’s time in Baton Rouge. The Tigers lost by three to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl, to cap off a disappointing year.

2015

The Tigers got off to a hot start in the 2015 season. Behind the human battering ram of Leonard Fournette, the Tigers were 7-0 and the number one team in the entire country. And then reality reared its ugly head. The Tigers dropped three consecutive games. Les Miles was nearly fired, but saved himself by netting back to back wins against Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

2016

Expectations for LSU this season were insanely high. LSU fans expected a conference title, a Heisman for Leonard Fournette, and a trip to the playoff. Instead, there is only disappointment and shattered dreams. LSU lost to Wisconsin in the opening game of the season. They then beat Jacksonville State by a lot, Mississippi State by a little, and lost to Auburn. And that, it turns out, was the final straw for the Mad Hatter.

Overall

During his 11 and a third seasons on the Bayou, Les Miles compiled a record of 114-34. That is a winning percentage of 77 percent. He also won three SEC West titles, 2 SEC Championships, and one BCS National Championship.

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