*Updated 12/10/2014*
Michigan has reached out to Miles regarding their coaching vacancy, per Scout.com, and there are rumors swirling that Miles will discuss the position further on Wednesday and Thursday. Here's everything you need to know about Miles as a possible candidate for the Michigan job:
Les Miles has been the head man in Baton Rouge since 2005, leading the LSU Tigers to a 103-28 overall record. He's been named National Coach of the Year (2011), won two SEC Championships, and captured one national title, but the most impressive part of his resume comes from his success against other good teams.
LSU is 15-15 against top 10 teams under Miles, and he's guided the Tigers to an astonishing 24-23 record when trailing after three quarters.
A large part of his success comes from being a great recruiter (seven straight classes have been ranked in the top 10 nationally), and he has a proven track record of developing NFL-caliber players, particularly on defense.
Michigan's Interest in Miles: 9.5
The only reason this isn't a 10 is because Miles is Michigan's second option behind current 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. That being said, he'd still get a major get for the Wolverines, and Michigan's interest in Harbaugh has cooled slightly in recent days. Harbaugh is sending signals that he'd rather remain in the NFL than return to college, and the longer Michigan goes without a concrete answer from Harbaugh, the more likely they are to turn elsewhere.
Miles is a Michigan alum that understands everything that goes into being the head coach in Ann Arbor...and it helps that he's a proven winner. LSU has had at least 10 wins for the past four seasons (a school record), and they've only played four games during Miles' tenure where they haven't been ranked in the top 25.
Miles' Interest in Michigan: 7
Miles has expressed some interest in the past about being Michigan's coach, but he didn't take the job when it was available in 2011. LSU has done everything they can to keep Miles, and their roster is stocked with considerably more talent. It'll be hard for Miles to walk away from that, especially with how long he's been there...but after LSU's unspectacular finish to the 2014 season, the stars might be aligning.
Fans Reaction: Ecstatic
Michigan fans are dying to get back to the top of the Big Ten and be in the picture for the College Football Playoff, and Miles is someone who has shown he can get that done. LSU has had as much success as any school in the country during his tenure, and it would only be a matter of time before he's elevated the Wolverines to that level as well.
Likelihood: Medium chance
If Jim Harbaugh wasn't in the picture, this would be a much more straightforward scenario. Working against the Wolverines is the fact that if they decide to wait for Harbaugh's season to end in San Francisco, that likely won't happen until January. If LSU knows Michigan is making eyes at their head coach, they won't wait that long to offer Miles a lucrative extension...which has been the case the last two times Michigan has been looking for a coach.
Still, if there's one job Miles would leave Death Valley for, it's Michigan.
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