Kansas Jayhawks Football

The University of Kansas athletics department paid former fullback Caperton Humphrey nearly $50,000 in benefits to sign a non-disparagement agreement and leave the program in 2019 after reporting four unnamed defensive players for allegedly threatening violence against him and his family as well as selling marijuana, according to Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star. 

Humphrey's family is looking to pursue legal action against former Kansas head coach Les Miles, former athletic director Jeff Long, compliance director David Reed and KU Athletics after Caperton developed anger issues and depression following the school's actions. 

Miles reportedly suggested Humphrey and the players settle their dispute through full-contact drills in practice. As the situation continued to escalate, Reed offered an agreement for Caperton to leave the program as Miles continued to use the four defensive players on the field. 

“Les Miles and Jeff Long swept this under the rug and tried to buy our silence,” Jamie Humphrey, Caperton's father, said. “This is how they operated while representing Kansas.”

Per the Star:

The deal, in essence, would be this: If Caperton left Lawrence, took KU online classes in West Virginia, and he and his family agreed to not talk about his experiences with the football team, he would continue to be paid his tuition and monthly stipend money from spring 2019 through his expected graduation date in May 2020. 

Specifically, the document stated that the Humphreys “understand and agree they will not make or publish, directly or indirectly, any materially negative comments verbally or in writing, on social media or in any other forum” about KU and KU Athletics employees “that might cause an individual to reasonably question the integrity, quality, character, competence or diligence of the University of Kansas, its Athletic Department, or its administrators, coaches, faculty and/or staff.”

The value of Caperton’s tuition total with the offer would be slightly higher than the $28,431.08 the Humphreys paid during the 2017 spring, summer and fall semesters combined before he was put on scholarship. The stipend checks of roughly $1,289 per month also would add up to $18,331.20, according to an email sent to Jamie by KU’s assistant athletic director for student services.

Additionally, KU reimbursed the family 58 cents per mile to take Humphrey back home to West Virginia while providing stipends for food, lodging and transportation as well as agreeing to ship his personal belongings back to him from Lawrence, Kansas. 

The agreement was signed by Reed, a long-time family friend of the Humphreys, which an anonymous Big 12 compliance official told Newell was "unusual." 

The fullback lived in an apartment above the four players during his time in Lawrence. As the situation continued to play out, the Humphreys traveled to Kansas to move Caperton to a different apartment when the players burst into the unit, threatened Caperton, his parents and his 15-year-old brother. Jamie Humphrey called 911. The player left before police arrived.

Humphrey said previous altercations before and during practice escalated when he noticed the lug nuts on his car's tire had all been loosened. Despite reporting the abuse to Reed and asking for a meeting with Miles and his family, the head coach would only meet with the players, reportedly asking both sides to apologize to each other. 

“I came out of that meeting, and I was like, [forget] this,” Caperton said. “They don’t want to talk to my family. They don’t want to do anything to help me. Why sit in this misery and fear for my life over something dumb?”

An open records request by the Star to recover Jamie's 911 call was denied by Lawrence police because it was "part of the criminal investigative record." The department did not respond when asked by the outlet why no offense report was created after police responded to the apartment unit. 

Miles was fired in March 2021 following an investigation into sexual misconduct during his time at LSU. Long, who oversaw the hiring of Miles, was fired a day later. Neither responded to the Star for comment. Both KU Athletics and Reed, who still serves as compliance director, declined to comment. 

   

University at Buffalo head football coach Lance Leipold has agreed to a contract to take over the same role at the University of Kansas, the school announced Friday.

Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel first reported Friday the deal has been "finalized" for Leipold to replace Les Miles. The other finalists were Army's Jeff Monken, Louisiana Tech's Skip Holtz and Texas A&M's Mike Elko.

The hire marks the second time in 11 years Kansas has turned to Buffalo in the hope of revitalizing its football program. The Jayhawks brought in Turner Gill, who'd led the Bulls to the 2008 MAC title, in 2010. He posted a 5-19 record across two seasons at KU.

Leipold's tenure in Buffalo can be viewed through a couple different lenses.

On one hand, he rebuilt the Bulls into a consistent contender in the MAC after the program had struggled to remain competitive after Gill's departure. UB compiled a 37-33 record during his six seasons, including a 24-10 mark over the past three years.

Yet it felt like Buffalo should have accomplished more in recent seasons.

The Bulls blew a 29-10 second-half lead in the 2018 MAC Championship Game against Northern Illinois and gave up 28 second-half points in a bowl loss to Troy that year.

UB fell short of the MAC title game in 2019 and laid an egg with the conference championship on the line in December, losing 38-28 to Ball State after entering the contest as an undefeated 12.5-point favorite.

To Leipold's credit, the Bulls did win their bowl games the past two seasons.

Before his time in Buffalo, the 56-year-old Wisconsin native guided Division III program Wisconsin-Whitewater to an eye-popping 109-6 record with six national titles in eight years.

In 2019, ESPN ranked Leipold as the 78th-best coach in the 150-year history of college football based mostly on his unprecedented success at the D-III level.

Now Leipold is tasked with turning around a Kansas program that hasn't posted a winning record since 2008. The team's last four coaches—Gill, Miles, Charlie Weis and David Beaty—all failed to win more than three games in a season.

The Jayhawks open the 2021 campaign Sept. 4 when they host South Dakota at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The University of Kansas announced wide receivers coach Emmett Jones will serve as interim head coach of the football team following the firings of Les Miles and athletic director Jeff Long earlier this week. 

Ready to work 💪

Emmett Jones will serve as our interim head coach.

More | https://t.co/WnyMFcGI2X#RockChalk x #kufball pic.twitter.com/vvb74OJzMw

— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) March 11, 2021

Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod announced booster Kurt Watson would serve as interim AD while Girod searches for a full-time replacement. The chancellor further expressed his desire for the next athletic director to hire a new full-time football coach in a statement released Thursday. 

“I am incredibly grateful to Chancellor Girod and Mr. Watson for the opportunity to lead this program during a critical time of change,” Jones said in a statement. “Since arriving here, I have developed a deep love of this program and university, and it is an honor to be named interim head coach. I will rely on our talented assistant coaches, as well as Ben Iannacchione and the strength and conditioning staff to guide our student-athletes and be there for them on and off the field.”

Jones, 46, is entering his fourth year at KU after serving as the head of player development and wideouts coach at Texas Tech from 2015-18. 

The move follows a public campaign by multiple KU football players to install Jones as head coach for the time being. 

Y’all know what to do✍️📃 #HC pic.twitter.com/5Alfr1kCKw

— Luke Grimm (@lukegrimm25) March 11, 2021

As a player at KU we need a coach in office right now that knows the players and has a relationship with the players‼️‼️ @KU_EJones

— De’Kedrick Sterns (@DekedrickSterns) March 11, 2021

Put Jones in that spot and LETS GET TO IT!

— Kwamie II (@kwamie_lassiter) March 11, 2021

@KU_EJones FOR HEAD COACH😈

— Cobee (@cobeebryant2) March 11, 2021

The new coach certainly has his work cut out for him this offseason. Kansas is coming off an 0-9 season and  lost multiple assistant coaches to other schools in the weeks leading up to Miles' firing. However, Jones was considered as important a member of KU's coaching staff as anyone else even before then.

The Dallas native took the lead on recruiting four-star wideout Quaydarius Davis, helping the Jayhawks ink their highest-rated recruit in program history despite competing offers from Texas, Alabama and Arkansas.

Davis played for the same Skyline High School team Jones served as offensive coordinator for from 2006-2013, and his ties to the area have already paid dividends. 

Said Watson:

“Chancellor Girod and I discussed what was in the best interest of our student-athletes, and we came to the conclusion that Emmett Jones is the best man to fill the role of interim head coach. This afternoon, I met with the four individuals we considered for this role including Emmett, D.J. Eliot, Joshua Eargle and Mike DeBord, as well as our entire coaching staff and team to inform them of this decision. Emmett’s relationship with our football student-athletes is vital as we venture through this time of transition within our football program and athletics department. I am confident in his abilities to ensure this program functions at a high level in preparation for the 2021 season.”

This will be just the second time in Jones' career he's served as head coach and his first time doing so in the college ranks. Jones was head coach at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas from 2012-2014 before joining the Red Raiders.

The University of Kansas announced Wednesday athletic director Jeff Long has stepped down from his position.

"Jeff and I spoke at length last night, and while I know he would have loved to stay here many more years, I respect his selfless decision to step down so that we can move Kansas Athletics in a different direction," Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said in a statement.

Long also addressed his decision:

"Last night, Chancellor Girod and I met and both agreed that it was in the best interest of our student-athletes and program for me to step down as of today. It is not easy, but I leave KU with a heavy heart and profound confidence that I have always acted in the best interests of Kansas Athletics. I have done everything in my control to move Kansas Athletics forward in a positive manner, that’s what makes this most difficult."

Girod said Kurt Watson will serve as the interim athletic director:

"We will immediately begin our search for a new athletics director. I will lead the process with the assistance of a search firm and four alumni advisors, each of whom have experience in collegiate athletics: Linda Ellis Sims, Ray Evans, John Ballard and Wayne Simien. Each of these Jayhawks will bring tremendous expertise and passion to the search, and I know their counsel will benefit the process. We will move quickly but judiciously, and my hope is to have a new athletics director in place within the next few weeks.

"Once a new athletics director is in place, that individual will determine next steps related to our football coach position. To assist the new athletics director make that determination once he or she arrives, I am assembling a committee of advisors who will be ready to help when called upon."

Jayhawks basketball legend Danny Manning expressed a desire to The Athletic's CJ Moore to succeed Long.

Under the separation agreement Kansas signed with Long, he will collect his usual salary through the end of March and receive a $1.4 million payout.

Kansas will pay fired athletic director Jeff Long $1.375 million to not work. pic.twitter.com/86BnoqrRGo

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) March 10, 2021

This move comes two days after the school and head football coach Les Miles mutually agreed to part ways.

Kenny Jacoby, Nancy Armour and Jessica Luther of USA Today reported last week that LSU investigated allegations of sexual harassment by Miles toward female students in 2013 when he was the Tigers head coach.

The investigation found Miles acted inappropriately, and he was reprimanded and banned from contacting or spending time alone with female students. Kansas placed Miles on administrative leave in the wake of the USA Today report.

Long addressed Miles' departure Tuesday in a press conference that may have done more harm than good to his job security. He told reporters he asked Miles before hiring him in 2018 whether he had done anything in the past that would reflect poorly on Kansas, and the former coach responded, "No."

Long said Tuesday it was "debatable whether that was a lie."

Beyond the scrutiny directed toward that hiring process, some questioned whether Long should be leading the search for a new coach:

Jeff Long speaking@mellinger: you're Arkansas hires weren't succesfull

Long: in what regard?

Mellinger: ...... on the field

— Mike Vernon (@M_Vernon) March 9, 2021

Jeff Long insists he will be leading the coaching search. Took exception to a reporter's question that characterized his Arkansas hires (Petrino, Bielema) as not having had "success," and pointed to his long history working in college football.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) March 9, 2021

During his tenure, the crown jewel of the athletic department has been mired in its own controversy. Kansas men's basketball was part of the FBI's investigation into corruption in college basketball. A former Adidas employee testified to paying representatives for Billy Preston and Silvio De Sousa as a way to get them to sign with the school.

The Jayhawks face five Level I violations, which the NCAA described as "egregious" last May. The case is in the hands of the Independent Accountability Resolution Process.

Long was also in charge when the university fired Miles' predecessor, David Beaty. Beaty filed suit against Kansas, alleging the school attempted to fire him with cause by claiming the football program was potentially guilty of NCAA violations.

The sides reached a $2.6 million settlement last June.

Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said the school conducted multiple background checks on Les Miles before hiring the former LSU head coach to lead its football program in 2018, per Harry Lyles Jr. of ESPN: 

"When Les Miles was identified as the lead candidate to be the head coach in 2018, the University of Kansas and Kansas Athletics does, with all hirings, we ran multiple background checks on Coach Miles.

"I also asked Coach Miles directly during the interview process whether there was anything in his past that could potentially embarrass the university or himself or our program, and he said no. We also did our due diligence by talking to individuals within the LSU athletics department to see if there was anything we should be aware of regarding Coach Miles tenure at LSU and received no indications of any issues."

As Lyles noted, Kansas placed Miles on administrative leave Saturday when allegations stemming from his time at LSU were made public.

The Jayhawks and Miles have since mutually agreed to part ways.

Kenny Jacoby, Nancy Armour and Jessica Luther of USA Today reported an internal investigation completed by the law firm Taylor Porter for LSU in 2013 revealed the coach "was accused of texting female students, taking them to his condo alone, making them feel uncomfortable and, on at least one occasion, kissing a student and suggesting they go to a hotel after telling her he could help her career."

Miles denied kissing the student and said he was serving as a mentor for women at LSU.

Former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva suggested the school should fire Miles with cause:

New information. Former #LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended in 2013 to fire Les Miles with cause and said the public opinion would be in LSU's favor. pic.twitter.com/x1C6TzOX6a

— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) March 5, 2021

During Tuesday's press conference, Long said Miles told him in February there was nothing Kansas should be worried about even though there was a legal dispute from his time at LSU. The athletic director also said Kansas did not receive the full report on Miles until it was publicly available.

The University of Kansas has reached a $2 million settlement with Les Miles after agreeing to part ways with the football coach late Monday night, according to the school.  

As expected in these types of things, both Miles and certain KU employees (Long, Girod, Freet, Lester) agreed to non-disparagement clauses as part of the settlement.

— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) March 9, 2021

Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star noted Miles will receive monthly checks of $201,187.50 from April to June followed by payments of $231,250 from July through December. 

Miles was fired two years into his Kansas tenure following the revelation of past inappropriate conduct while head coach at LSU in 2013, resulting in the Tigers' then-athletic director recommending his firing and LSU ultimately banning the coach from interacting with female student employees in private. 

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, KU athletic director Jeff Long, who hired Miles to coach the Jayhawks, said an outside firm would be involved in finding a new head coach, but the decision would ultimately rest with him. 

Yet concerns over Long's track record in hiring coaches were notably raised during Tuesday's press conference. 

Kansas Athletic Director Jeff Long was asked about his track record hiring head coaches and why KU fans should be confident he can make the right hire. #kufball pic.twitter.com/1XL61E04Zr

— Pete Francis (@Pete_Francis) March 9, 2021

Following the departure of Bobby Petrino at Arkansas, Long hired John Smith, who was fired after one season and a 4-8 record, and Bret Bielema, who went 29-34 in five seasons. Bielema put together only one season of eight or more wins in his time with the Razorbacks. 

The Jayhawks are in an even worse spot now as they attempt to hire their fifth full-time head coach since 2010. Kansas has won just 21 total games since then and is coming off an 0-9 season under Miles. 

Some context. There is a non-disparagement agreement in the settlement. So Long can’t call Miles a liar if he wants to now.

But the question Long can answer — but chose not to — is why they settled with Miles in the first place. (Probably because they botched Beaty so badly.) https://t.co/DjGdJwkShr

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) March 9, 2021

For clarity, Long says there were no reports of improper conduct by Les Miles during his time at KU that concerned him... #KUfball

— Matt Tait (@mctait) March 9, 2021

Long attempted to fire David Beaty with cause in order to hire Miles, though Beaty sued and the school eventually settled, paying out $2.55 million of the final $3 million on Beaty's contract. On Tuesday, the athletic director said he conducted "multiple" background searches on Miles and asked the coach if there was anything in his past that could embarrass the school.

Miles declined to reveal LSU's investigation. 

The University of Kansas and head football coach Les Miles mutually agreed to part ways after the school initiated a review of his behavior while at LSU.

"I am extremely disappointed for our university, fans and everyone involved with our football program," athletic director Jeff Long said. "There is a lot of young talent on this football team, and I have no doubt we will identify the right individual to lead this program. We will begin the search for a new head coach immediately with an outside firm to assist in this process. We need to win football games, and that is exactly what we’re going to do."

Miles also released a statement:

"This is certainly a difficult day for me and for my family. I love this university and the young men in our football program. I have truly enjoyed being the head coach at KU and know that it is in a better place now than when I arrived. To our student-athletes, I want you to remember that you came to play for KU and earn a degree here. So, I implore you to stay and build on what we started and do all of the things we talked about doing together. There is a bright future for all of you and for KU Football."

Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord will serve as the acting head coach until an interim replacement is announced.

Miles was placed on administrative leave by Long on Friday following the release of an external probe by law firm Taylor Porter in 2013, which documented alleged inappropriate conduct by Miles while he was head coach of the Tigers.

The 67-year-old allegedly asked female student employees of the LSU athletic department to contact him on a private phone under false names, took them back to his condo and, in one case, kissed a female student in his car after offering to help advance her career.

Miles denies the events occurred, and the investigation could not unequivocally conclude Miles carried out sexual relationships with any students. However, LSU banned the coach from being alone with female student employees after 2013.

Former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended firing Miles with cause.

New information. Former #LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended in 2013 to fire Les Miles with cause and said the public opinion would be in LSU's favor. pic.twitter.com/x1C6TzOX6a

— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) March 5, 2021

Miles' alleged behavior was only unearthed after USA Today's Kenny Jacoby, Nancy Armour and Jessica Luther sued for its release following a broader investigation into LSU's handling of sexual misconduct cases.

"Even though the allegations against him occurred at LSU, we take these matters very seriously at KU," Long said in a statement. "Now that we have access to this information, we will take the coming days to fully review the material and to see if any additional information is available. I do not want to speculate on a timeline for our review because it is imperative we do our due diligence."

Long initially attempted to fire KU coach David Beaty with cause to bring Miles to Lawrence—and avoid paying a $3 million buyout on Beaty's contract—a plan that backfired, with the university settling at $2.55 million while exposing the AD's infatuation with Miles.

Sworn testimony given by Long showed the athletic director struggled to name another coach he interviewed before hiring Miles. In his statement regarding Miles, Long wrote that he was unable to access any official reports on the investigation until Wednesday. It's unclear what Long knew of the 2013 investigation into Miles before hiring him to coach Kansas in 2019.

It's another dark chapter for a program that hasn't produced more than four conference wins in a season since head coach Mark Mangino led the Jayhawks to an Orange Bowl victory in 2007.

Dating back to 2010, Kansas has hired and fired Turner Gill, Charlie Weis, Beaty and now Miles. The program has finished 10th in the Big 12 in all but two seasons during that span—a stretch that includes winless campaigns in 2015 (0-12) and 2020 (0-9).

Miles leaves KU after going 3-18 (1-16 Big 12) and following a mass exodus of assistant coaches before the allegations were released.

The University of Kansas has placed head football coach Les Miles on administrative leave following a report from USA Today's Kenny Jacoby, Nancy Armour and Jessica Luther that revealed a 2013 investigation by LSU concluded Miles had conducted inappropriate behavior with female students while head coach of the Tigers. 

Full statement from KU AD Jeff Long... #KUfball pic.twitter.com/yK3wKpIBIQ

— Benton Smith (@BentonASmith) March 6, 2021

Miles is alleged to have texted with women working as student staffers in the LSU athletic department, taking them alone to his condo and—in one case—kissing a student in his car after offering to help advance her career.

The USA Today report noted the investigation did not find Miles carried on sexual relationships with any of the women, yet LSU issued a letter of reprimand as well as banned him from being alone with student employees. The investigation was not disclosed until USA Today sued for its release amid a broader look at LSU's handling of numerous sexual misconduct cases. 

Then-LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended firing Miles with cause in 2013 after the head coach allegedly defied rules put in place to keep him away from meeting with student workers alone.

New information. Former #LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended in 2013 to fire Les Miles with cause and said the public opinion would be in LSU's favor. pic.twitter.com/x1C6TzOX6a

— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) March 5, 2021

Miles, who was hired by KU in 2019, denied the allegations through his attorney, Peter Ginsberg. 

On Saturday, Ginsberg called the school's decision to put Miles on leave "disturbing and unfair" and categorized it as "media blowback," according to ESPN.com's Chris Low. 

"As the report concludes, the allegation that Coach Miles attempted to kiss the woman was supported by no evidence and warranted no discipline: 'We do not believe under existing law and the terms of the contract there is cause to discipline and/or terminate' Coach Miles," Ginsberg wrote in a statement, citing the investigation's findings. 

The Jayhawks did not announce an interim coach. In two years at Kansas, Miles is 3-18 (1-16 Big 12) including a winless season in 2020. He's the fourth head coach hired by KU in a decade following Turner Gill, Charlie Weis and David Beaty. 

Former LSU and current Kansas head football coach Les Miles ended a legal bid designed to stop the public release of findings from a 2013 investigation.

Kenny Jacoby, Nancy Armour and Jessica Luther of USA Today reported the news Wednesday, noting the investigation was done in response to allegations Miles sexually harassed student workers and made sexist comments when he was the coach for the Tigers.

"Quite simply, Mr. Miles cannot defend himself against the inaccurate and unfair media attention that this matter has received during the past week without citing to the Report's findings and conclusions," Miles' attorney, Peter Ginsberg, wrote.

LSU refused to publicly release the findings of the report, which prompted USA Today to sue for access. That is when Miles intervened and said releasing the information would violate the privacy granted to him by the Louisiana constitution.

The SEC school still objects to the report's release.

While the Miles investigation was done by law firm Taylor Porter, LSU also hired outside law firm Husch Blackwell to audit how it handled sexual misconduct cases after USA Today reported it mishandled numerous cases and allegations.

Wednesday's report cited independent sources who said the Miles probe did not absolve the coach of wrongdoing but determined he did not break the law.

Miles coached at Oklahoma State from 2001 to 2004 before he coached the Tigers from 2005 until he was fired four games into the 2016 season. Kansas said it was not aware of the allegations against him when it hired him in 2018.

Kansas Jayhawks running back Pooka Williams Jr. announced on Monday that he is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 college football season.  

He explained in his announcement he is doing so "to be closer to my mother and family in Louisiana," adding that his mother is "battling health issues." Williams also thanked head coach Les Miles and said he believes the former LSU coach has the program heading in the right direction despite an 0-4 start to the campaign:

Family over everything 💜.. I’m going to miss all my guys & coaches, it’s forever Rock Chalk🤞🏾 pic.twitter.com/5vV2dFUVuF

— Pooka Williams👣 (@PookaWilliamsJr) October 19, 2020

"We fully support Pooka's decision to opt out of the season to be able to support his mother in person during this difficult time as she fights this battle," Miles said in a statement, per Scott Chasen of 247Sports. "I'm proud of him for making this tremendous sacrifice to support his family and do what he believes is right. We will be there for Pooka and his family in every way possible moving forward."

While Kansas traditionally struggles on the gridiron, Williams has been a rare bright spot in terms of on-field production.

He arrived as a 4-star prospect in the recruiting class of 2018, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and ran for 1,125 yards and seven touchdowns while mixing in 289 yards and two scores through the air as a freshman. He even threw for a touchdown and appeared well on his way to superstardom.

Williams then followed up with 1,042 rushing yards, 214 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2019.

He often put up those numbers without much support up front, as Pro Football Focus noted his 33 percent forced missed tackle rate was the highest for any Big 12 running back since the 2014 season.

The junior was off to a much slower start this year, though, and averaged just 3.8 yards per carry through his first four games. He was also yet to even reach 80 yards on the ground in a single contest, although he scored twice against Baylor.

Kansas next faces Kansas State in a rivalry clash on Saturday.