Who Is Art Briles?
Art Briles made his name as one of college football’s most innovative offensive minds. He coached Baylor University’s football program from 2008 to 2015, leading the Bears to unprecedented success — including back-to-back Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014.
Before Baylor, he had a strong record coaching high school football and a stint at the University of Houston.
Why Was He Fired from Baylor?
In May 2016, Baylor University terminated Briles after a damning independent investigation by the law firm Pepper Hamilton.
The investigation concluded that Baylor’s football program had “significant concerns” around its culture of accountability: allegations of sexual assault by players were not adequately addressed, and there was a systemic failure to discipline or report serious misconduct.
Specifically, the Pepper Hamilton report found that the football program did not effectively handle multiple Title IX issues.
In response, Briles publicly apologized: he said “some bad things happened under my watch” and acknowledged his responsibility, even if he denied direct knowledge of every incident.
After his firing, Baylor’s board of regents settled with Briles — he received a severance, but also a letter of recommendation.
What Did He Do (Allegations & Controversy)
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Multiple women reported sexual assault by Baylor football players during Briles’s tenure.
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According to the investigation, Briles and his staff were criticized for shielding players and not taking sufficient disciplinary measures.
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In interviews after his firing, Briles claimed he was under-informed about many incidents; he said he would have handled things differently if he had known more.
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Despite the scandal, Briles was cleared of NCAA violations in 2021 — though the court of public opinion remained harsh.
What Happened After Baylor: Where Was He Hired Next?
High School & International Coaching
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Briles returned to coaching by taking a high school job: in May 2019, he became head coach at Mount Vernon High School in Texas.
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He also coached in Italy, leading the Guelfi Firenze team in the Italian Football League.
Return to College Football
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In February 2022, Briles was hired by Grambling State University as their offensive coordinator, under head coach Hue Jackson.
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However, his stint at Grambling was very short-lived. Just four days later, he resigned, citing that his presence was becoming a distraction for the team amid backlash over his Baylor history.
Why His Firing Still Matters
Art Briles remains a polarizing figure in college sports. To some, he’s a brilliant coach who was unfairly scapegoated. To others, his leadership at Baylor is inextricably linked with a culture that badly mishandled sexual assault allegations. His brief return to college coaching at Grambling ignited controversy and ultimately ended in resignation, underlining how hard it is to separate his legacy from the scandal.
