Gundy ready for Miles’ return

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy spoke for nearly a full minute, listing reason after reason why he still highly respects new Kansas coach Les Miles.

Gundy called Miles a mentor, praised his past performance and coaching tree, and gave a nod to the many ways Miles has helped Gundy and his family.

“Plus, he’s a lot older than me,” Gundy said.

One of a few goodnatured jabs Gundy took at Miles on Monday,

only setting the table for what is to come with the 65-year-old Miles — 14 years Gundy’s elder — back in the Big 12 Conference.

“This conference has been entertaining,” said Gundy, who was the offensive coordinator when Miles was OSU’s head coach from 200104. “Now, it’ll be more entertaining with Coach. I’m glad he got back into it. I’m not sure why anybody that gets past 60 would want to be back into it, but it’s awesome for him that he wanted to do it.”

Asked when he found out about Miles taking the Kansas gig, Gundy couldn’t say for sure, but said he — like many others — saw it coming.

“I think everybody knew for days,” he said. “I was guessing if he took a ($5 million) cut from (LSU) that he had some security that he was gonna get the Kansas job.

“I know he’s 65, but you figure he can still add good.”

Miles left $5 million on the table from his buyout after being fired at LSU in the middle of the 2016 season, taking $1.5 million of the $6.5 million total that was still owed to him. He is set to earn $2.775 million a year as part of a five-year contract.

Gundy was asked if the same run-based offensive schemes Miles ran at OSU, and then LSU, would still work in the high-flying Big 12.

“Did he say he’s gonna run that offense?” Gundy asked, though Miles hasn’t publicly addressed such plans. “I thought it was gonna be interesting to see what he was gonna do. I think that’ll be more interesting than whether one or the other will work.

“If he decides to do what he’s done, he knows that offense blindfolded. And if he decides to do it, he’ll do it, and he’s not gonna worry about what people think.”

Gundy says he hasn’t spoken to Miles recently, but looks forward to the Big 12 coaches’ meetings in the spring — and Saturdays in the fall.

“It was good to see him back out there,” Gundy said. “Nothing like seeing a guy in a coat and tie, and a ball cap.”