Kansas football shouldn’t appoint OC Mike DeBord as head coach
With Coach Miles on administrative leave, AD Jeff Long has appointed OC Mike DeBord as the “point man” for the time being.
Placing Kansas football head coach Les Miles on leave following Friday’s investigative release by LSU, Athletic Director Jeff Long is looking to recent OC hire Mike DeBord for the time being.
A move like this is a poor use of judgment because of the deep relationships Miles has built with his current student-athletes, staff, and associates.
Update... Although no interim head coach was named to step in for Les Miles when the KU football coach was placed on administrative leave, for now offensive coordinator Mike DeBord is KU football's acting head coach: https://t.co/4rLG0lkv6L #KUfball
— KUsports.com (@KUsports) March 8, 2021
Having someone inside, who’s been around this roster and staff for at least a year would’ve been a more responsible decision. DeBord has held his role for a little over a month, and the closest relationship he likely has with Kansas is, ironically, Les Miles.
His previous coaching role was a one-year stint as an offensive analyst at his old Michigan stomping grounds following his short-lived job in San Diego with the failed AAF League.
It’s also important to note that Reddit CFB has reported that Kansas had met with the team and staff to discuss Miles’ leave and further decisions that still await to be made.
Source: Kansas held meeting with team this afternoon and told the team that Les Miles has not been fired and a final decision has not yet been made.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) March 8, 2021
While Mike carries a lot of experience in college football, this isn’t the kind of role you give to someone with such little time invested in the program/university in my opinion.
Now fans shouldn’t worry about DeBord looking over the team for now, but we should keep our ears open for any conversations about having him step into the head coaching position.
More. Les Miles placed on administrative leave, what's next?. light
Having another head coach from outside the program shouldn’t still well with football program board members and alumni, based on the track record with coaches such as Gill and Weis.
While I mean no harm to DeBord and recognize his respectable career in college football, I don’t believe he’s the one who’s going to lift Kansas out of this hole.
The world of college football has plenty of candidates with proven records, but selling someone on the Kansas job in March, as the country is emerging from a pandemic, is a tough sell.
Kansas should hire inside and hire smart, I don’t think fans will mind as long as AD Long takes his time and finds someone close to the program who can at least land the team on its feet in 2021.