Arthur Ray Briles, famously known as Art Briles, was considered the million-dollar coach in football. Briles first set his footprint in school football as an assistant at Sundown High School and Sweetwater High School.
Briles gradually rose to the ranks as the head coach for Hamlin High School and Georgetown High School. He had the Midas touch, considering his winning streak in four state championships as the head coach at Stephenville High School. He “graduated” from high school coaching with a stellar record of 165-46-3.
Post which, he became the head coach at the University of Houston, leading the team to a 10-4 record and winning the Conference USA Championship. These stats were enough to get Briles into the Baylor program to recover from the jinx of losing since 1995.
Briles finally gave Baylor its first winning season in 15 years and bowl appearance with a record of 7-5 in 2010. A year later, he led Baylor to the most successful season for the team since the Big 12 Conference with a record of 10-3.
Briles was the saving grace for the team. However, the behind-the-scenes were allegedly far more harrowing.
Art Briles was fired from Baylor after allegations of sexual assault against players were brought to light in 2016. A preliminary investigation revealed that Briles’s misdemeanors were swept under the rug as the Baylor officials failed to take proper action against his predatory behavior. Some allegations against the other football players were as severe as gang rape. Briles denied all allegations, but the university eventually terminated him.
What Did Art Briles Do?
The Board of Regents of the University of Baylor issued a document on all details of a sexual assault scandal. The school was a boiling pot of piling sexual misconduct for years.
2014: Linebacker Tevin Elliot was sentenced to 20 years in prison while some other student-athletes were involved in inappropriate conduct.
2016: Shawn Oakman, who plays defensive end, was charged but was later not guilty.
2019: Another defensive end, Sam Ukwuachu, was indicted but not convicted.
According to reports, Briles knew about these offenses and tried harassing the victims who came forward with the allegations.
Why Was Ex-Baylor Coach Art Briles Fired?
Baylor officials were accused of inaction to severe sexual misconduct, one incident involving a gang rape by the athletes. The years of concealing these allegations without even an in-house investigation would make the entire school an accessory to the crimes.
As a quick contingency plan, Baylor took action by firing Art Biles. However, it was revealed that he got a settlement deal from Baylor. Following this, university president Ken Starr, athletic director Ian McCaw, and Title IX coordinator Patty Crawford put down their resignation.
Latest Update on Art Briles
Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby brought his father-in-law, Art Briles, to the field. Briles, under investigation, was seen on the field with Lebby and his sons after Oklahoma’s 28-11 win over SMU on Saturday night.
This irked a lot of fans who were intolerant to a coach on the field again who is alleged of shielding the sexual misconduct. Soon after the backlash, Lebby changed the profile picture on his social media handles to a family picture with Art Briles.
OU Fans React to Art Briles On the Field
What is your take on the controversy? Do you believe that Lebby was in the wrong to bring Briles back into the field?
Should Lebby be fired from the Sooners, or is it an overaction? Let us know in the comments section below.
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