If football is a game of inches, then LSU football coach Les Miles missed getting the Michigan head coaching job by mere centimeters.
According to a University of Michigan booster who was a part of the selection process, Miles was the school’s top choice and a shoo-in for the position, had he accepted it on time.
Michigan on December 30, 2014 hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach (2011-14) and Wolverines quarterback (1983-86) to a $5 million a year deal over seven seasons along with a $2 million signing bonus, effectively ending the school’s third courtship of Miles in eight years.
Although he publicly denied he had interest in the job and was committed to staying at LSU, Miles reportedly agreed to take the job unaware he had accepted it after a hard deadline the school had imposed for him to deliver an answer had passed, forcing the school to hire Harbaugh.
Miles’ time mismanagement left Michigan officials scratching their heads as all the coach had to do to receive a deadline extension was to ask for a brief timeout while he gathered his thoughts.
Despite the hiring of Harbaugh, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit still believes Miles will soon be named Michigan’s coach.
“We called, sent texts and wrote emails to remind him time was running out. Reps even went to his house and knocked, but he missed the deadline we gave him. He could have asked for more time. All he had to do was make the call,” said the booster.
“His time management skills leave something to be desired, so it may have worked out for the best.”
Rumors swirl about Miles heading north every time Michigan’s top football position becomes vacant, yet three straight times someone else has been hired. Miles, who also is a former Wolverine, played on the offensive line from 1974-75 and is contracted to coach LSU through the 2019 season.
Harbaugh, who leaves the San Francisco 49ers after making three straight NFC championships, one Super Bowl and earning playoff berths four out of five seasons, felt the Michigan job was his to lose.
“Les is a great coach, but I wasn’t worried. I felt like he needed a Hail Mary to beat me out for this job, and we all know it’d never fly more than five or six yards,” said Harbaugh.