Baylor fires Briles, demotes president in wake of scandal.

Associated Press

A brash Texan with a bold approach, Art Briles made Baylor football relevant after years of wallowing in the basement of the Big 12 Conference.

The Bears became one college football’s cool teams under Briles, winning league titles and earning lofty rankings with one of the most exciting and prolific offenses in the history of the sport. The new, $250 million stadium on the banks of the Brazos River doesn’t have Briles’ name on it but there is no one more responsible for its existence.

That era is over now in Waco.

Everything Briles accomplished has been tarnished and it would be surprising if he ever becomes the head coach of a big-time program again.

Briles, 60, is on his way out at Baylor after the school released details Thursday of a sweeping investigation into allegations that the football program and other school leaders failed to take action after complaints of sexual assault and violence by players.

Baylor regents said Briles had been suspended “with the intent to terminate according to contractual procedures” — an extraordinary and rare decision in a sport where coaches often survive scandals.

The Bears went 65-37 in eight seasons under Briles and won two Big 12 titles.

Baylor also demoted president Ken Starr and placed athletic director Ian McCaw on probation after an external investigation found the actions of football staff and athletics leadership “in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the university.”