LSU head coach Les Miles stays, offensive coordinator Gary Crowton leaves

Contract extended

LSU officials announced this week that head football coach Les Miles has agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract.

The deal must be approved at the next LSU Board of Supervisors meeting in March.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said it is a fixed-term contract without any year-to-year rollover clause as in Miles’ current agreement.

Staying power

If Miles serves the length of the new contract, he would tie Bernie Moore (1935-47) for the second-longest tenure in LSU history.

Charles McClendon (1962-79) had the longest stint at the helm.

Miles has recorded a 62-17 record in six seasons at LSU, the winningest six-year span by any coach in school history.

Michigan opening

Miles, a former Michigan guard, became a candidate for the head coach job at his alma mater on Jan. 5, when the school fired Rich Rodriguez after he went 15-22 in three seasons.

Michigan Athletic Director David Brandon, a former teammate of Miles, flew from Ann Arbor to Baton Rouge to discuss the job.

Staying home

“This is home to us,” Miles said during a press conference this week. “My family really loves being in Louisiana and I love representing this great institution. Staying at LSU is the right thing to do. I wanted to stand by the commitment that I made to the team and to LSU and that really overshadowed any other consideration.”

Crowton leaving

LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton resigned and will take a similar position at Maryland, Miles confirmed on Thursday morning.

Crowton served as LSU’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for four years.

“Gary helped us win a lot of games over the last four years, including a national championship,”?Miles said.