Tag: Art Briles

Art Briles named head coach at Div. II Eastern New Mexico

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Division II Eastern New Mexico named Art Briles as its new head coach on Monday morning.

“I am excited to welcome Art to Eastern New Mexico University,” athletic director Kevin Fite said in a release. “He is an excellent coach, and I look forward to the future of Greyhound football.”

Briles, 69, hasn’t coached in college football since 2016. He was fired from Baylor after a review of the school’s handling of sexual assault allegations made against multiple football players.

That investigation has resulted in backlash whenever teams have expressed interest in hiring Briles.

Grambling State caused an uproar in 2022 when the school tried to bring in Briles as its offensive coordinator, resulting in him withdrawing his name from consideration as a means of avoiding a distraction.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats found themselves in a similar scenario in 2017, with the CFL team opting to rescind an offer to Briles the same day it was made.

Briles took accountability months after his firing at Baylor in an interview with ESPN for what occurred under his watch.

“I understand that I made some mistakes, and for that, I’m sorry,” he said. “But I’m not trying to plead for people’s sympathy. I’m just stating that, ‘Hey, I made some mistakes. I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’m going to learn. I’m going to do better.’”

A federal judge ruled in 2023 that Briles wasn’t negligent in a case regarding a Baylor student who said she was physically assaulted by one of the school’s football players in 2014. Briles eventually received a $15.1 million settlement from Baylor after being fired with eight years left on his contract.

The Texas native coached in the Italian Football League and at a Texas high school following his dismissal from Baylor, where he went 65-37 over eight seasons and 3-3 in bowl games from 2008-15.

Briles also went 34-28 across five campaigns (2003-07) at Houston, where Fite served as associate athletic director for compliance and eligibility during Briles’ tenure.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Art Briles to coach DII Eastern New Mexico

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Art Briles is set to take over as the new head coach at Division II Eastern New Mexico, according to reports on Sunday.

Briles, 69, hasn’t coached in college football since 2016. He was fired from Baylor after a review of the school’s handling of sexual assault allegations made against multiple football players.

That investigation has resulted in backlash whenever teams have tried to hire Briles. Grambling State caused an uproar in 2022 when the school tried to bring in Briles as its offensive coordinator, resulting in him withdrawing his name from consideration so as not to be a distraction. The CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats faced a similar scenario in 2017, forcing them to rescind an offer to Briles the same day it was made.

Briles took accountability months after his firing in an interview with ESPN for what occurred under his watch.

“I understand that I made some mistakes, and for that, I’m sorry,” he said. “But I’m not trying to plead for people’s sympathy. I’m just stating that, ‘Hey, I made some mistakes. I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’m going to learn. I’m going to do better.’ ”

A federal judge ruled in 2023 that Briles wasn’t negligent in a case regarding a Baylor student who said she was physically assaulted by one of the school’s football players in 2014. Briles eventually received a $15.1 million settlement from Baylor after being fired with eight years left on his contract.

The Texas native coached in the Italian Football League and at a Texas high school following his dismissal from Baylor, where he went 65-37 over eight seasons and 3-3 in bowl games from 2008-15. Briles also went 34-28 across five campaigns in 2003-07 with Houston, where Eastern New Mexico athletic director Kevin Fite served as associate athletic director for compliance and eligibility during Briles’ tenure.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of an Oklahoma Sooners helmet on the bench during the game between against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Art Briles’ Oklahoma visit raises concerns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Baylor coach Art Briles apparently was an unwelcome visitor on the field at Oklahoma after the Sooners beat SMU 28-11 in Norman, Okla., on Saturday night.

Briles, fired by Baylor in 2016 as the school investigated a wave of reports of sexual assaults by players, has been kept from other jobs since then because of negative fan reaction. And Oklahoma fans took to social media Saturday night to voice displeasure at seeing Briles on the field, wearing an Oklahoma shirt.

“I was made aware of it, just before I came in here, that he was [on the field],” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables told reporters just after the game. “That’s being dealt with.”

Briles is the father-in-law of Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, who said Briles attended the game with family.

“That’s the grandfather to my two kids, so he was down with our entire family well after the game, but he was down there. … He’s with his entire family,” Lebby said, per ESPN.

According to the ESPN report, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione issued a statement that said, “I was just as disappointed as many of our fans when I learned of the postgame situation tonight. It shouldn’t have happened and it was my expectation it never would, based on boundaries we previously set. I’ve addressed it with the appropriate staff.”

Fan reaction kept Briles, 67, from filling coaching jobs at Grambling State and with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

ESPN reported he has been hired to coach the Dallas entry in the International Football Alliance, a new professional league scheduled to start next June. So far two teams in Texas and three in Mexico have been announced.

–Field Level Media

Dec 9, 2018; Carson, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals special assistant to the head coach Hue Jackson watches from the sidelines in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Grambling’s Hue Jackson defends hiring of Art Briles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Grambling State football coach Hue Jackson on Monday defended the controversial hiring of Art Briles as offensive coordinator.

Briles has been out of college football since he was fired as the head coach at Baylor in 2016 after an independent investigation into a widespread sexual assault scandal in the Bears’ football program.

Jackson, who was named the coach at Grambling in December, said the decision to bring Briles aboard was not taken lightly.

“The Hue Jackson Foundation has been dedicated to fighting against ALL forms of sexual abuse and exploitation as well as other forms of racial and social bias,” Jackson wrote in a statement released by the foundation. “We have a clear understanding of the role that coaches and others who have a position of trust play in the lives of those they meet.

“We also know and understand the process of identifying risks, helping others to heal, and the importance of prevention. We believe that through the hiring of Coach Briles and the well-developed programs we have in place, this hire will be instrumental in teaching others the importance of knowing how to prevent victimization, proper reporting procedures, provide adequate resources to individuals who have been victimized and develop strong law enforcement partnerships within the community.”

Briles, 66, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity at Grambling in an interview last week with KTAL-TV in Shreveport, La.

“I’ll do exactly what I’m required to do and what they expect of me, which is to be a very solid citizen, to be a positive leader on a day-in and day-out basis, to do everything I can do to protect our students and our student-athletes on campus and to represent the Grambling University to the best of my ability because I’m very humble and grateful to be at this university,” Briles said.

Briles’ teams finished in the top 20 four times in his eight seasons at Baylor, where he went 65-37 with six bowl appearances.

Overall, Briles compiled a 99-65 record in 13 seasons as a head coach at Houston (2003-07) and Baylor (2008-15), leading the Bears to Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014.

“As we move forward together with Coach Briles, we ask that people keep in mind that no matter your views on this topic, please remember that people can and often do become re-traumatized and re-victimized by statements which may or may not be accurate,” Jackson’s statement said. “We will continue to support Coach Briles and all victims of assault, violence, social and racial injustices and we will continue to provide equal opportunity for healing for everyone.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; A general picture of a Grambling State Tigers helmet on the sideline of the game between the Houston Cougars and the Grambling State Tigers at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Ex-Baylor coach Art Briles named OC at Grambling State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Art Briles, who left his job as head coach at Baylor in disgrace, has been hired as the offensive coordinator at Grambling State, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

247Sports said a Grambling spokesperson confirmed the hiring of Briles but added the school would not be issuing an official statement. Instead, “a local TV station did an exclusive interview and we are allowing for them to tell that story,” the spokesperson said, per 247Sports.

Grambling’s head coach, former Cleveland Browns and then-Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson, has not commented.

Briles, 66, last coached at the college level in 2015. Baylor terminated Briles’ contract before the 2016 season following a widespread sexual assault scandal in the Bears’ football program.

Most recently, Briles spent two seasons as the head coach of Mount Vernon High School in Texas. He resigned following the 2020 season.

Briles was hired at the University of Houston as head coach in 2003. Following five mostly successful seasons and three bowl games with the Cougars, Baylor tabbed Briles as head coach.

Briles’ teams finished in the top 20 four times in his eight seasons at Baylor, where he went 65-37 with six bowl appearances.

In 2019, Briles was close to being hired for the offensive coordinator job at Southern Miss, until negative backlash followed a Biloxi Sun Herald report that Briles was on the Hattiesburg campus for an interview. The school quickly reversed course amid criticism.

An opportunity to work as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League also was rescinded after community response.

Overall, Briles compiled a 99-65 record in 13 seasons as a head coach at Houston (2003-07) and Baylor (2008-15), leading the Bears to Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014.

–Field Level Media

Jul 15, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda speaks to the media during Big 12 media days at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

NCAA hands Baylor probation, fine in sex assault scandal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NCAA infractions committee made available its findings from a years-long investigation into the Baylor football program on Wednesday, handing the Bears four years of probation, a fine and multiple other sanctions but declaring the school ultimately did not violate NCAA rules.

The ruling comes more than five years after the sexual assault scandal broke in 2016, leading to the firing of football coach Art Briles and the eventual departures of athletic director Ian McCaw and school president Ken Starr.

According to the report, “The allegations at the heart of this case centered on conduct never before presented to the COI (Committee on Infractions) — namely, that Baylor shielded football student-athletes from the institution’s disciplinary process and failed to report allegations of abhorrent misconduct by football student-athletes, including instances of sexual and interpersonal violence.

“Baylor admitted to moral and ethical failings in its handling of sexual violence on campus but argued that those failings, however egregious, did not constitute violations of NCAA legislation. Ultimately, and with tremendous reluctance, this panel agrees.”

However, the NCAA did find other violations that occurred between 2011 and 2016, including impermissible benefits for one football player as well as Baylor’s operation of “a predominantly female student-host program that did not align with NCAA recruiting rules,” according to the NCAA’s release on the report. Additionally, former assistant director of football operations Colin Shillinglaw failed to meet his obligation to cooperate, thus violating ethical conduct rules when he did not participate in the investigation.

The specific penalties include four years of probation, a $5,000 fine and several recruiting restrictions. Restrictions include a reduction in official and unofficial visits, a ban on football recruiting communication during a two-week period of the 2021-22 academic year and a reduction of evaluation days during fall 2021 and spring 2022. Also, a five-year show-cause penalty has been given to Shillinglaw, while Baylor must vacate any records that occurred where an ineligible player participated.

Following Briles’ departure, Baylor found success under former head coach Matt Rhule, who spent three seasons with the Bears and led them to an 11-3 season in 2019. After Rhule left Waco to take over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Baylor brought in former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who led the Bears to a 2-7 season in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A Big 12/Texas Tech pylon in the end zone before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Houston Baptist Huskies at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Baylor coach Briles resigns high school post; Texas Tech next?

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Baylor coach Art Briles resigned as head coach at Mount Vernon High School in Texas, fueling speculation he will pursue a return to college football.

“After coaching 42 games of football from Florence, Italy to Mount Vernon, Texas in the last 22 months, I respectfully resign,” Briles said in a statement.

Briles served as the head coach for two seasons, leading Mount Vernon to a 20-6 record overall and the state 3A Division 1 semifinals in 2020. He accepted the job after coaching in the Italian Football League in 2018.

“I want to thank Coach Briles for his two years here in Mount Vernon. He and his staff have invested themselves into our community, our school, and more importantly into the lives of our students,” Mount Vernon Independent School District superintendent Jason McCullough said on the district’s Facebook page. “This football season was an awesome experience and one that all of Mount Vernon will always remember. He is an amazing coach and the program he has built in Mount Vernon puts us in a position to continue to be successful moving forward.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday that there is a growing call among boosters for Texas Tech (4-6, 3-6 Big 12) to replace coach Matt Wells with Briles, an alumnus of the school. Baylor terminated Briles’ contract before the 2016 season following a widespread sexual assault scandal in the Bears’ football program.

The Star-Telegram report said an outside law firm sent its findings of an investigation into Briles to the Texas Tech board of regents on Thursday, and the investigation concluded the following:

“Based on the information available to us as recounted herein, including statements made by Baylor and by others about Coach Briles with respect to the events surrounding his tenure as head coach at Baylor, we are not aware of any conduct on the part of Coach Briles that should serve to foreclose consideration of him as a candidate to coach football again at the collegiate level.”

Briles also is rumored to be a potential candidate at Liberty should Hugh Freeze leave for an opening at a Power Five conference program. The athletic director at Liberty, Ian McCaw, hired Briles at Baylor and resigned in May 2016 as part of the sexual assault scandal.

Briles, a Texas native, started his head-coaching career in high school at age 28 in 1984 and remained entrenched in the state’s football coaching scene at five high schools over two decades before he jumped to the college level as an assistant with Mike Leach at Texas Tech in 2000.

After three years as the running backs coach for the Red Raiders, Briles was hired at the University of Houston as head coach in 2003. Following five successful seasons and three bowl games with the Cougars, Baylor tabbed Briles as head coach.

Briles’ teams finished in the top 20 four times in his eight seasons at Baylor, where he went 65-37 with six bowl appearances.

Briles was close to being hired for the offensive coordinator job at Southern Miss, until negative backlash followed a Biloxi Sun Herald report that Briles was on the Hattiesburg campus for an interview. The school quickly reversed course amid criticism.

An opportunity to work as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League also was rescinded after community response.

Overall, Briles compiled a 99-65 record in 13 seasons as a head coach at Houston (2003-07) and Baylor (2008-15), leading the Bears to Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014.

–Field Level Media