Les Miles has accomplished a lot as a collegiate head coach, but he still regrets not getting a shot at his alma mater.

Known as “The Mad Hatter,” Miles was an offensive lineman with the Michigan Wolverines during the 70s. He would go on to get his start in coaching as a graduate assistant under the great Bo Schembechler.

Miles would eventually earn a head coaching job at Oklahoma State before a very successful run with the LSU Tigers. From 2005-16, Miles won 114 games, two SEC Championships, and the 2007 BCS National Championship.

Looking back, Miles knows he owes a lot to the Wolverines and his time there. But on a recent appearance on the “View from the Press Box” podcast with Angelique S. Chengelis, Miles admitted he regrets never getting the opportunity to be the head coach in Ann Arbor.

There was a lot of speculation during the 2007 season that Miles would be the choice to take over after Lloyd Carr retired. Unfortunately, that never materialized:

“I love Michigan,” Miles said. “We just didn’t have the opportunity. It does break my heart. I love the place…I don’t know that I was ever really close (to getting the job)…I was fortunate to be at a decent place (as LSU’s head coach). It didn’t work out and I’m sad that it didn’t.”

Instead of hiring Miles after the 2007 season, the Wolverines hired Rich Rodriguez. He would go 15-22 in three seasons before being dismissed. Fans will just have to wonder how things may have been different had Miles been hired instead.