5 possible long-term replacements for Les Miles at LSU

4. Art Briles

Briles’ apparent role in covering up sexual assault by his players at Baylor can’t be ignored, and his recent public apology is part of a clear spin cycle to get him back into coaching next season.

But Briles has been a success on the field, taking Baylor from a 4-8 record in each of his first two seasons to six straight bowl appearances and four double-digit win seasons. Including his five seasons as head coach at Houston (2003-2007), Briles has a 99-65 record (3-6 in bowls) over 13 combined seasons as a college head coach.

Briles was dismissed by Baylor in the wake of the troubling sexual assault scandal, and it’s unclear if any penalties will be coming to him from the NCAA. That may affect his job prospects at the collegiate level, with the risk of reduced scholarships or something else, at least at any Power 5 school with an opening. So it’s worth wondering if Briles’ next opportunity will have to come in the NFL, as an assistant or even possibly as a head coach.

As with most candidates on this list, the name of Briles’ game is offense, as he built a fast-paced, explosive system at Baylor. That alone may make him an appealing option for LSU, even if it means absorbing some public scrutiny for considering or hiring a questionable character.