An internal investigation from LSU in 2013 accused former coach Les Miles of inappropriate behavior towards female students, but did not find that Miles had sexual relations with any of the women, according to an investigation report released by the university on Thursday .
According to the investigation report, first reported by USA Today and obtained by ESPN, Miles is accused of contacting female students via Facebook and texting, meeting them alone from campus and kissing at least one of them.
According to the report, Miles strongly denied that he had kissed the student and said that he did nothing wrong because he accompanied young women to the university. Staff at the athletics department accused Miles of saying that female student employees who helped attract top recruits to the football team “had to have a ” certain appearance ”, which further implies that it is attractive, blonde and fit. means, according to the report, and if existing student employees do not do so If it does not fit the description, they should be given fewer hours or fired.
In a statement issued to ESPN, Miles’ lawyer Peter Ginsberg said the release of the investigation, which was done on behalf of LSU by law firm Taylor Porter, should put an end to the unfounded, inaccurate media reports that coach Les Miles eight years ago engaged in an inappropriate touch of a volunteer from the athletics department. “
“As the report concludes, the allegation that coach Miles attempted to kiss the woman was supported by no evidence and did not justify any discipline: ‘We do not believe under the existing legislation and the terms of the contract there is reason to discipline and / or termination not “Coach Miles. Coach Miles denies, as he now denies, that such conduct has taken place.”
Miles’ attorney said a second woman is making a similar allegation that is not supported in the findings.
According to the investigation report, the woman’s “attitude and inconsistent, vague statements are of such a nature that she does not appear to be a reliable source of information.” According to the report, the woman claims that she was “subjected to an unwanted touch.”
The Taylor Porter investigation found that “we are unable to determine what happened” in Miles’ car, where the first woman said Miles kissed her twice.
Despite no verdict on what actually took place in the car, the report said: “there can be little doubt that the behavior, if true, is inappropriate and unacceptable,” and that even with acceptance of Miles’ version of what happened appears. that he has shown poor judgment by placing himself (and the student employee) in a situation in which the student employee may be uncomfortable and / or he may be subject to such complaint. “
As a result of the investigation, LSU gave a reprimand letter to Miles and he was ordered to stop hiring student employees to look after and may not be alone with them.
The report ultimately stated that “LSU could not substantiate any lawful offense”, according to a letter from the Taylor Porter law firm to Ginsberg, but “LSU concluded that Miles was engaged in poor judgment.”
Miles, who is now head coach in Kansas, also had to attend eight one-hour sessions with a lawyer and pay for it himself.
A Kansas athletics spokesman told the Lawrence Journal-World that the university is reviewing the investigation report.
“We are also aware that LSU will release an additional report tomorrow (Friday), and we will wait to comment further until we have reviewed both documents,” the spokesman told the Journal-World.
USA Today reported widespread abuse of sexual misconduct allegations by LSU’s athletics department and administration. As a result, in November, LSU hired law firm Husch Blackwell to investigate the handling of dozens of cases of sexual misconduct since 2016.
The results of the investigation will be announced on Friday.