Former LSU coach Les Miles reportedly was investigated for sexual harassment of student workers early last decade and reached a settlement with at least one of the women, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
According to The Advocate, the settlement doesn’t show up in court records in Baton Rouge, La., and emerged amid a investigation into how LSU has handled allegations of sexual misconduct.
USA Today sued LSU in January for copies of the Miles investigation report after the university refused to release it. A judge ordered that it remain sealed until March 30, when a trial to hear Miles and LSU’s objections will be heard.
LSU also has retained the outside law firm Husch Blackwell to audit roughly 60 sexual misconduct cases from 2016 to 2018.
The investigation involving Miles reportedly occurred in 2013, three years before he was fired by the school after the football program’s fortunes dropped significantly from the established level earlier in Miles’ tenure.
The Advocate reached Miles on Wednesday, and he denied he made sexual advances toward a student intern.
“That’s not true,” Miles said.
Miles declined to answer questions about the reported settlement.
Miles, 67, is now the head coach at Kansas, where he has a 3-18 record in two seasons with the Jayhawks.
He was 114-34 in 11-plus seasons at LSU. His team won the BCS national championship in 2007 and was the national runner-up in 2011. He won 10 or more games on seven occasions with the Tigers.
His last 10-win season occurred in 2013.
Miles was 19-10 over his final two-plus seasons and was fired after a 2-2 start in 2016. He coached at Oklahoma State prior to LSU.
LSU spokesman Jim Sabourin released the following statement to USA Today: “We are not in a position to comment on these allegations, as there is currently a court order prohibiting the disclosure of any related information.”
Kansas officials told USA Today that the school didn’t know about the allegations when Miles was hired. The school said it spoke to Miles and is gathering more information.
“Because this involves Coach Miles’ former employer and pre-dates his time at KU, and because we do not have factual knowledge about details of these allegations, it is not appropriate for us to comment further,” spokesman Dan Beckler said.
–Field Level Media