A 2013 internal investigation at LSU accused former coach Les Miles of inappropriate behavior toward female students, but did not find that Miles had sex with any of the women, according to an investigation report released Thursday by the university.
According to the investigation report, first reported by USA Today and obtained by ESPN, Miles was accused of contacting female students via Facebook and text messages, meeting them off-campus and kissing at least one of them.
According to the report, Miles strongly denied kissing the student and said he had done nothing wrong, that he was guiding the young women to university. Athletes staff accused Miles of saying that student employees who helped attract top recruits to the football team “must have a certain look,” which means it means he’s attractive, blond, and fit. according to the report and do not fit this description, they should be given fewer hours or fired.
In a statement to ESPN, Miles’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, said the launch of the investigation, which was done by law firm Taylor Porter on behalf of LSU, “should put an end to unfounded and inaccurate media relations, according to which coach Les Miles engaged in an inappropriate touch of a volunteer student of the Athletic Department eight years ago. “
“According to the report, the statement that coach Miles tried to kiss the woman was not supported by any evidence and did not justify any discipline:” We do not believe that, under existing law and in terms of the contract, there is grounds for disciplinary and / or termination ”Coach Miles. Coach Miles then denied, as he now denies, that such conduct had taken place. “
Miles’s lawyer said a second woman made a similar accusation, which was not substantiated in the findings.
According to the investigation report, “the woman’s inconsistent behavior and vague statements are such that she does not appear to be a reliable source of information.” The woman claimed, according to the report, that she was “subjected to an unwanted touch”.
Taylor Porter’s investigation determined that “we can’t determine what happened” in Miles’ car, where the first woman said Miles kissed her twice.
Despite the fact that there was no verdict on what actually happened in the car, the report stated that “there is no doubt that the behavior, if true, is inappropriate and unacceptable” and that even with the acceptance of Miles’ version of what happened, “seems to have shown poor judgment in putting himself (and the student employee) in a situation where the student employee could be uncomfortable and / or subject to such a complaint. “
Following the investigation, LSU sent Miles a letter of reprimand and ordered him to stop hiring students to take care of them and not be allowed to be alone with them.
The report eventually determined that “LSU could not prove any breach of the law,” according to a letter from law firm Taylor Porter to Ginsberg, but “LSU concluded that Miles engaged in conduct that showed poor judgment.” ”.
Miles, who is now head coach in Kansas, also had to attend eight one-hour sessions with a lawyer and pay for them himself.
A Kansas athletics spokesman told the Lawrence Journal-World that the university is reviewing the investigation report.
“We are also aware that LSU is issuing an additional report tomorrow (Friday) and we will wait to comment further until we review both documents,” the spokesman told Journal-World.
USA Today reported widespread manipulation of allegations of sexual misconduct by LSU’s sports department and administration. As a result, LSU hired law firm Husch Blackwell in November to oversee the management of dozens of sexual misconduct cases since 2016.
The results of this survey will be published on Friday.