Make your choice: Les Miles and Dave Doeren reach coaching search bracket finals

It all comes down to this.

After dominating their competition in each of the first four rounds, former LSU and Oklahoma State coach Les Miles and North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren are the only two candidates remaining in our fan-driven KU Football Coaching Search Bracket.

The athletic director at the University of Kansas, Jeff Long would consider himself fortunate if his finalists turn out to be as good as these two.

And, realistically, Long would find himself in a pretty enviable spot if he had a shot at hiring either of the other two coaches who cracked the bracket’s Final 4.

Eliminated in semifinals:

Jeff Monken – Army head coach

Seth Littrell – North Texas head coach

But now that the pool has been whittled down to the two football coaches who most intrigue the KU football fan base it’s time for you to get this fictionalized contract with your favorite candidate finalized.

Fans have all day Tuesday to vote for the champion, so to speak.

— Les Miles – Former LSU and Oklahoma State head coach vs. Dave Doeren – N.C. State head coach —

LES MILES

Miles won 114 games and lost 34 over the course of 11-plus seasons with LSU. He was voted Coach of the Year by the AP in 2011, following his second SEC championship and a 13-0 start to the season. Miles’ Tigers won the national championship in 2007.

His name continues to be the most popular reportedly tied to Long’s search, which is officially in its second week.

Coaching Record Table
Year School G W L T Pct AP Pre AP High AP Post
2001 Oklahoma State 11 4 7 0 .364
2002 Oklahoma State 13 8 5 0 .615
2003 Oklahoma State 13 9 4 0 .692 24 14
2004 Oklahoma State 12 7 5 0 .583 16
2005 LSU 13 11 2 0 .846 5 3 6
2006 LSU 13 11 2 0 .846 8 3 3
2007 LSU 14 12 2 0 .857 2 1 1
2008 LSU 13 8 5 0 .615 7 3
2009 LSU 13 9 4 0 .692 11 4 17
2010 LSU 13 11 2 0 .846 21 5 8
2011 LSU 14 13 1 0 .929 4 1 2
2012 LSU 13 10 3 0 .769 3 2 14
2013 LSU 13 10 3 0 .769 12 6 14
2014 LSU 13 8 5 0 .615 13 8
2015 LSU 12 9 3 0 .750 14 4 16
2016 LSU 4 2 2 0 .500 5 5 13
16 Yrs Overall 197 142 55 0 .721
4 Yrs Oklahoma State 49 28 21 0 .571
12 Yrs LSU 148 114 34 0 .770
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/11/2018.

DAVE DOEREN

Now in his eighth overall season as a head coach, Doeren has won 63 of 100 games and guided his teams to five bowl appearances — with another one on the way this year.

North Carolina State has won the St. Petersburg Bowl, Independence Bowl and Sun Bowl under Doeren’s watch.

Unlike Miles, of course, Doeren is an active head coach, currently preparing his Wolfpack (6-3, 3-3) for a Saturday matchup with floundering Louisville.

Whether Long considers Doeren a candidate or would seek him out to fill KU’s vacancy is unknown at this time.

Coaching Record Table
Year School G W L T Pct AP Pre AP High AP Post
2011 Northern Illinois 14 11 3 0 .786
2012 Northern Illinois 13 12 1 0 .923 16 22
2013 North Carolina State 12 3 9 0 .250
2014 North Carolina State 13 8 5 0 .615
2015 North Carolina State 13 7 6 0 .538
2016 North Carolina State 13 7 6 0 .538
2017 North Carolina State 13 9 4 0 .692 14 23
2018 North Carolina State 9 6 3 0 .667 16
8 Yrs Overall 100 63 37 0 .630
2 Yrs Northern Illinois 27 23 4 0 .852
6 Yrs North Carolina State 73 40 33 0 .548
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 11/11/2018.

— Now’s your chance. Pick KU football’s next head coach at our bracket: 2018 KU Football Coaching Search Bracket

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