Les Miles isn’t just staying at LSU — he appears ready to stay in Baton Rouge for the long haul.
Miles has agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract, pending approval of the Board of Supervisors, the school announced Wednesday morning.
The new contract runs through 2017 and the base salary will remain the same at $3.751 million per year. It does, however, allow incentives for championships and postseason accomplishments. The contract also doesn’t include rollovers, as the previous one did. His previous contract was set to expire in 2014.
“I want to thank Coach [Miles] for how he handled this process,” LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said Wednesday. “He’s built and sustained this program. That’s what we will do for the next seven years … and hopefully beyond that.”
The contract comes less than 24 hours after Miles announced he would stay at LSU despite meeting with Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon on Monday night in Baton Rouge. Many thought Miles was strictly meeting with Michigan to force LSU into signing him for more money, but that wasn’t the case.
“I promise you this, this was not a bidding war in any way,” Miles said.
Miles did note one important factor that kept him in Louisiana — his family. Miles, 57, said he met with his family before deciding and encouraged everyone’s input.
“My children enjoy being here,” he said. “They’re happy here. That was an important factor.”
Miles would tie Bernie Moore as the second longest tenured coach at 13 years if he honors the seven years of his new contract. Charlie McClendon, who coached the Tigers from 1962-79, leads LSU with 18 seasons.
“Long term this is the kind of place that can win and win greatly,” Miles said. “To have a contract that should get you by a rough year will allow me to help get to the championships.”
A similar situation developed in 2007 when Lloyd Carr stepped down as Michigan coach. Miles was deemed a candidate for the position then, but chose to remain at LSU.
Miles hinted other opportunities besides coaching at Michigan have been presented to him during his six-year tenure at LSU.
“There are other jobs run by me and declined that never made the paper,” Miles said. “This one was too important to me that it had to be made public.” 
Miles was respectful of his alma mater, who hired former San Diego State coach Brady Hoke on Tuesday. Hoke served as defensive line coach at Michigan during the late ’90s before head coaching positions at Ball State and San Diego State.
“Michigan will rise again,” Miles said. “They will have great success. That is a wonderful place to go to school.”
The up and down relationship between Miles and LSU fans led some to believe there was a chance he would leave if Michigan came calling.
Some fans even booed the team during this year’s 11-2 season. But his decision to stay put Miles back in the good graces of his demanding fan base.
“I want to be at a place where they care greatly for the work that you do,” he said. “If that means that just very rarely, some one or two guys might boo, I kind of understand.”
Besides the new contract, Miles was also asked about the possibility of junior running back Stevan Ridley leaving for the NFL draft and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton leaving for another coaching gig.
Miles was very vague on both topics, leaving many to believe both are gone.
“Stevan Ridley is certainly a guy who is considering the NFL Draft still,” Miles said.
Miles said there will be a coaches meeting Thursday, but wasn’t specific on the status of Crowton or strength coordinator Tommy Moffit. Miles mentioned there are “other great opportunities” for coaches on his staff. Moffit has been rumored to be in contact with Tennessee and Crowton by Maryland.
Jim Kleinpeter of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Wednesday that Moffit, who just finished his 11th season as LSU’s strength coach, will receive a pay raise and stay at LSU.
Glenn Guilbeau of Gannett News Services is reporting that Crowton is out at LSU. WWL in New Orleans is also reporting Crowton will not be returning to LSU. 
Advocate sports writer Randy Rosetta exchanged text message with Crowton on Wednesday afternoon and posted the following on his twitter.
“A direct quote from Gary Crowton about being fired: ‘No, I’ve been on a plane. Heading back to Baton Rouge right now. Have not been fired,'” Rosetta tweeted.
Crowton also told Rosetta he has in fact interviewed for the Maryland job. Crowton has previous history with new Maryland coach Randy Edsall. The two worked together at Boston College from 1991-93.
If Crowton leaves, it will be either resigning or accepting another job. Miles doesn’t usually fire his coaches, he simply asks them to find another job. An announcement on Crowton’s fate could come as easily as tomorrow.
“I am not ready to say there won’t be changes in the staff … we’ll have to see how that goes,” Miles said.
Sports Writer Michael Lambert contributed to this report
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