Art Briles Shocking Return: You Won't Believe What He's Doing at Eastern New Mexico!

Art Briles, the former Baylor University football coach, is making a controversial return to the college football scene as he is set to take the helm at Eastern New Mexico University, a Division II program. Sources confirmed this news to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Sunday night, marking Briles' comeback after nearly a decade away from collegiate athletics.

At 69 years old, Briles has remained largely out of the spotlight since his firing in 2016 due to a damning review of Baylor's handling of sexual assault allegations involving several football players during his tenure. He briefly coached in the Italian Football League with Guelfi Firenze and held a position at Mount Vernon High School in Texas from 2019 to 2020. His last significant link to college football prior to this announcement came in 2022 when Grambling State attempted to hire him as an offensive coordinator. However, after facing backlash, Briles withdrew his name from consideration just four days later, stating he didn't want to be a distraction to the team.

The hiring at Eastern New Mexico has stirred various reactions, especially considering Briles' past. Kevin Fite, the athletic director at Eastern New Mexico, previously worked with Briles at the University of Houston, where he served as the associate athletic director for compliance and eligibility. Briles built a reputation as an offensive innovator in Texas high schools and later amassed a 99-65 record at Baylor and Houston, winning three conference titles. His tenure at Baylor saw the team achieve 10 wins or more in four of his last five seasons.

In Briles' own reflection on his departure from Baylor, he acknowledged the mistakes made under his watch. In a 2016 interview with ESPN, he stated,

“I understand that I made some mistakes, and for that I'm sorry. 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.'”

This apology, however, has not fully absolved him in the eyes of many. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Briles was not negligent in a separate case involving a female Baylor student who reported being assaulted by one of the school's football players in 2014.

The fallout from his time at Baylor significantly affected Briles' career trajectory. After being dismissed with eight years remaining on his contract, he received a $15.1 million settlement from the university. Despite these circumstances, the return to coaching raises questions about accountability and the impact of past actions in the world of sports.

As Briles steps into his new role, the implications of this hire extend beyond the football field. It reignites discussions about the responsibilities of coaches and institutions in safeguarding players, particularly in light of the sensitive issues surrounding sexual assault in athletic programs. Briles' tenure at Eastern New Mexico will be closely watched, not only for the performance of the team but also for how his past continues to shape perceptions and reactions.

Mark Berman, formerly of KRIV Fox 26 in Houston, first reported the news of Briles' hiring, a move that has already sparked debate among fans and commentators alike about the lessons learned from past scandals in college sports.