Arkansas, looking to replace fired-in-disgrace Bobby Petrino and his replacement John L. Smith, has made a head-coaching offer to LSU coach Les Miles, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports, citing a source.
The Razorbacks offered five years, $27.5 million, according to the paper.
“They made a serious offer,” a source told the newspaper. “(Athletic director) Joe (Alleva) is meeting with (Miles’) agent and the discussion is ongoing.”
Miles’ agent, George Bass, however, dismissed the report, telling the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “There’s nothing like that going on.”
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long announced Saturday the school would not be bringing back Smith.
The former Michigan State and Louisville coach was hired from Weber State in April to replace Petrino, mired in a scandal with a young female employee, and signed to a 10-month contract. Long says that once a new coach is hired, Smith will be reassigned as a consultant through the end of his deal on Feb. 23, 2013.
LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette told the paper that Miles “didn’t have anything to say.”
LSU beat Arkansas in its final regular-season game on Friday, finishing with double-digit wins for the sixth time in eight seasons under Miles, which includes a national championship three years ago.
