Art Briles: 'I've got to redefine myself and start a new chapter'
Former Baylor coach Art Briles understands he needs to be able to reinvent himself if he wants to be considered for another coaching job.
Briles was at training camp for the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday and, per the Dallas Morning News, “indicated” he was ready to join the football coaching carousel after the 2016 season.
“Around November, December, unfortunately some job will come open. I’ve never rooted against anyone or any team,” Briles said via the DMN, “but that’s the nature of the business. It’s going to be a new journey and I’m excited to take it, I really am.”
Briles was fired from Baylor in May as a summary of findings regarding Baylor’s handling of sexual assaults was released. Two former members of the football team are imprisoned on rape charges and a third is currently indicted. Multiple other players in Briles’ tenure with the school were accused of sexual assault and those findings said members of the football staff subverted university discipline processes and procedures.
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He reached a settlement with the school regarding the balance of his contract and both he and Baylor have filed motions to dismiss in a Title IX suit by a former Baylor student that names the university and former head coach.
Briles said he’ll eventually be forthcoming about what took place at Baylor. He came to the school from Houston and had a record of 65-37 in eight seasons.
“That day will have to come,” he said. “I’m dumbfounded and trying to process everything as it goes, but it is what it is. What I’ve got to do is redefine myself and start a new chapter, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Given the nature of the accusations and allegations, that reinvention may be much easier said than done. But this is football, a sport that loves second chances.
Briles was the only football coach fired in the wake of the investigation along with two staffers. And the entire Pepper Hamilton investigation has yet to come into public view. If Briles’ side of the story is different than what the summary of events at Baylor says or the school continues to withhold the entire report, don’t be too surprised if he makes an expeditious return to coaching.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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