Colorado Football: Top 5 Candidates to Replace Mike MacIntyre

4. Les Miles (Former HC/LSU)

It seems like a matter of when, not if, Les Miles will return to the college football sidelines. The Mad Hatter has been out of coaching since being fired by LSU in the middle of his 12th season in Baton Rouge. His tenure in Death Valley ended unceremoniously, but he did rack up a 114-34 record during his time, along with a pair of SEC Championships and a BCS National Championship in 2007.

His last few seasons were marred by an inability to get past Nick Saban and Alabama in the SEC West as the LSU administration felt like the program was running in place.

Miles is sure to draw significant interest in this coaching carousel, as he has already been rumored to be at the top of Kansas’ wish list.  If he is approached by Colorado, however, you would have to figure Boulder would be a more appealing option as it would be demonstrably less of a rebuilding job.

More: 5 Reasons Kansas must hire Les Miles

Miles has ties to the program as well, having spent five seasons as the team’s offensive line coach from 1982-1986 under legendary Colorado coach Bill McCartney. His ties to the golden age of Colorado football, as well as his proven track record as a college head coach, make him an obvious candidate to replace MacIntyre.

Miles is 65, and it’s fair to question whether he would be able to recruit well enough without the fertile recruiting rounds of Louisiana to win at a high enough level for his hiring to pay off.