On November 18, 2018, Miles was hired as head coach at the University of Kansas. He signed a five-year, $13.8 million contract. In his first year as coach, the Jayhawks finished 3–9 overall and 1–8 in the Big 12. They defeated Boston College on the road to earn their first win on the road against a Power Five Conference team in 48 games. Miles and athletic director Jeff Long had been friends since the 1980s, dating to their days at Michigan when Miles was an assistant and Long was an assistant athletic director.