Sunday AM Update:
SI's Ross Dellenger reports the deal is in place. Les Miles is Kansas' new head coach.
Jon Kirby who covers KU has also now confirmed the hire.
Original post:
Kansas is finalizing a deal to bring former LSU head coach Les Miles back to the sidelines, according to a report from Ross Dellenger.
Dellenger adds in his article that an announcement could come as soon as this weekend.
For a few weeks now, people have talked about the great longstanding relationship Miles has with new Kansas athletic director Jeff Long, who previously led the athletic department at Arkansas. It's a relationship that stretches back to the University of Michigan back in the 1980's.
A few weeks back, when Kansas announced that they'd be moving from David Beaty into a new direction, in our Update at Kansaswe shared that Les was the frontrunner for the job, and Long clearly worked quickly behind the scenes to make it happen.
News broke yesterday that Miles and LSU had finally agreed to a settlement to his buyout, furthering speculation that something may be in the works to get Miles back into coaching after almost two seasons away.
In Miles, Kansas is getting one of the more unique characters in college football, and one that went an impressive 114-34 leading LSU, complete with a national title in 2007. Before taking the LSU job heading into the 2005 season, Miles went 28-21 overall as the head coach at Oklahoma State.
The hiring of Miles, who turned 65 earlier this week, brings a number of questions with it as well though. For example, it will be interesting to see what he's learned away from the sideline, and what his offense will look like in an offensive dominated league like the Big 12, and who he brings on board to fill out his staff, and the resources Kansas will commit to him to ensure he's successful.
One thing is for sure, The Mad Hatter will bring a bright spotlight to Lawrence with him and have the attention of much of the country as one of college football's most interesting ambassadors.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update> CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd is now also reporting that "an agreement between the parties is in place but it's just a matter of working out the details". Dodd added that the family is already planning their move to Lawrence, KS.