A 2013 investigative report made public for the first time Thursday indicates that Louisiana State University officials warned former head football coach Les Miles about his behavior around young women.
The report, parts of which remain redacted, nonetheless reveals that several LSU athletic department employees said Miles was insistent that LSU hire “attractive, blonde, fit” female students to work in recruiting, and that Miles had been forbidden from having one-on-one meetings or interactions with student employees, according to The Advocate of Baton Rouge. Miles’ supervisors also ordered him to stop texting, calling and messaging student employees, the investigation found.
The full report can be found here.
In one specific case, Miles had been accused of kissing a female student twice, engaging in "unwanted touching" of her, telling her he was attracted to her and suggesting that they go to a hotel or to his condo together. Miles, the current head coach at the University of Kansas, denies kissing the student, The Advocate reported. A statement on his behalf portrays Miles as a victim and a mentor to young women while at LSU. Kansas officials "will wait to comment further" until after reviewing the investigative report more closely, according to The Advocate.
LSU fired Miles four games into the 2016 season.
The law firm Taylor Porter reviewed allegations from two female students who worked in the athletic department, including one woman who babysat for Miles’ children. LSU ordered the coach to stop hiring female students to babysit his children and to stop being alone with them. He was also made to attend eight, one-hour sessions that he had to pay for and attend with an attorney, the report said.
As reported by The Advocate, it took eight years, investigations by two law firms and a lawsuit from USA Today — which was the first to receive a copy of the investigation Thursday — to uncover the allegations against Miles. The investigative report by the law firm Taylor Porter details the various ways in which attorneys and LSU officials worked to ensure that it would remain secret, with all parties agreeing that they would never release the document unless under a court order.
LSU officials aware of the 2013 investigation at the time of its launch include former board of supervisors Chairman Hank Danos, chairman-elect Bobby Yarborough, athletic committee chairman Stanley Jacobs, former general counsel Shelby McKenzie, former athletic director Joe Alleva and current senior associate athletic Director Miriam Segar.
On Wednesday, Miles asked a Baton Rouge judge to release the report, saying through his lawyer that he is tired of "unfair and speculative reporting" surrounding the investigation. Miles had previously intervened in the case in hopes of keeping the report secret, The Advocate reported.
A second report, by the law firm Husch Blackwell, is due to be released today, and will examine LSU's past handlings of sexual assault and domestic violence cases on campus.
