updated 10:12 p.m.: AD: Michigan has not contacted LSU regarding Les Miles
If Michigan is pursuing Les Miles as its next head football coach, his current boss is unaware of the situation.
LSU athletic director Joe Alleva issued a statement Saturday evening that said the Wolverines had not contacted him requesting permission to speak with Miles.
“I have not been contacted by anyone from the University of Michigan about Les Miles,” Alleva wrote in a statement posted on the school’s official athletic website.
“Les Miles is LSU’s head coach and we are going to do everything we can to keep it that way. He has had great success here and we plan to keep enjoying that success under his leadership.
Should Michigan pursue Miles, it wouldn’t be the school’s first dalliance with the coach who won a national championship in 2007 by beating Ohio State.
Miles, an assistant at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, was an overwhelming favorite to take over the Wolverines following Lloyd Carr’s retirement in November 2007.
Although Michigan had expressed interest, a deal was never consummated.
The Wolverines instead hired Rich Rodriguez, who was fired Wednesday after compiling a 15-22 record in three years on the job.
Before thumping Texas A&M, 41-24, in Friday’s Cottom Bowl, Miles was peppered with questions about the Michigan opening.
“I very much enjoy where I’m at,” Miles said, according to the Baton Rouge Advocate. “I don’t think anybody has any reason to be concerned in any way.” Pete Bigelow covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2556, via email at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
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