Jones: Miles resigns from Dallas to be OSU coach

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Les Miles has resigned his assistant coaching position with the Dallas Cowboys and has accepted the head football coaching position at Oklahoma State, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has confirmed.

Jones told The Daily Oklahoman for Tuesday's editions that Miles had ``everything and will be a successful coach.''

``We're sorry to lose him, but he made a top contribution while he was here,'' Jones said. ``He's extremely well-qualified to be a college head coach, and I know he had a very serious (passion) for Oklahoma State.''

The school has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Wednesday in which Miles' hiring is expected to be announced.

Miles was OSU's offensive coordinator in 1997 when the Cowboys went 8-4 and reached the Alamo Bowl.

Rich Dalrymple, director of public relations for the Dallas Cowboys, told The Associated Press that Miles was not at practice Monday because of issues related to his pursuit of the Oklahoma State job.

He said the Dallas Cowboys would leave an official announcement on any hiring to Oklahoma State.

``We just feel that it's appropriate fo whoever's hiring the individual to make the announcement,'' Dalrymple said.

Oklahoma City TV station KFOR reported that Miles told Jones of his intention to resign and accept the OSU job. KWTV and radio station WWLS, also reported on Monday that Miles was the choice.

In a teleconference with reporters who cover OSU football on Monday, Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips would not confirm the move.

Asked if a decision was imminent, Phillips said, ``close.''

Last week, Boise State coach Dirk Koetter accepted the OSU job but rescinded his acceptance a day later and took an offer from Arizona State.

Phillips said he doesn't think the coach's reversal will reflect negatively on OSU.

``Dirk Koetter is an outstanding coach and he's got an impeccable record regarding his honesty and integrity,'' Phillips said. ``Our research confirmed he is an outstanding man and he's going to do an outstanding job at Arizona State University.''

Phillips said Koetter was always up-front about his fondness for Pacific 10 Conference schools. In meetings with OSU officials, Koetter cited Oregon and Arizona State as schools that were very attractive to him. OSU made an offer before Koetter visited Arizona State.

``But last week, he did tell us that he was coming,'' Phillips said in the Tulsa World. ``It was my understanding that there were no conditions on coming. It was just an issue of working out the contract with his attorney.''

Koetter got a five-year, $3.5 million deal to coach the Sun Devils. His selection was announced on Saturday.

Efforts to reach Miles for confirmation were unsuccessful on Monday. Miles would replace Bob Simmons, who was fired in November after six seasons.

The 47-year-old would be a popular choice among some players. Last week, five Cowboys met with Phillips to describe the kind of coach they hoped he'd hire and used Miles as a model.

Senior quarterback Tony Lindsay, one of five players who met with Phillips, lit up when told Miles was the apparent choice.

``That'll work,'' said Lindsay, whose best year at OSU was the '97 season spent under Miles' tutelage. ``Coach Miles can bring a lot to the team.''

He has served on staffs under prominent head coaches, including Bill McCartney at Colorado and Bo Schembechler at Michigan. Miles also played for Schembechler at Michigan from 1972-75.

OSU's offenses went from 311 yards and 20.7 points a game in Miles' first season there (1995), to 391 yards in 1996, producing two games of 500-plus yards.

Then in 1997, the Cowboys averaged 376 yards and 30.2 points and finished 8-4 _ still the program's only winning season since 1988 _ and went to the Alamo Bowl.

Speculation on OSU's new football coach has centered on Miles and former Oklahoma State quarterback Mike Gundy, who were granted second interviews last week. Gundy was a serious candidate despite being 33-year-old and being relatively inexperienced, said Phillips.

Phillips said Gundy was informed that an offer was on the table for another individual and OSU was waiting for that individual's decision.

``During the day after I met with Mike, Dirk accepted the position,'' said Phillips. ``The next morning, I met with Mike again and told him the position had been accepted.''