Baylor hires Grobe;AD McCaw resigns

Associated Press

Scrambling to find a coach to lead its football program through a tumultuous time, Baylor hired a man known for turnarounds and integrity.

Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe will replace Art Briles, Baylor announced Monday. Grobe was named acting coach, with no mention of how long of a contract he will receive.

A little more than an hour after Grobe’s hiring was made official, Baylor announced that athletic director Ian McCaw had resigned, severing another tie with the sexual-assault scandal that has tarnished the school’s reputation.

Briles was ousted and McCaw placed on probation by Baylor last week after the release of a report commissioned by the Waco, Texas, school that accused university leadership of not responding to or inappropriately handling allegations of sexual assault, some by members of the football team.

Grobe, 64, has been out of coaching for two seasons. He spent 13 years with Wake Forest, leading the team to some of its best seasons. Grobe was 77-82, including an Atlantic Coast Conference title and Orange Bowl appearance in 2006.

The Demon Deacons had two winning seasons in the 12 years before Grobe took over and had gone to five bowl games in program history. Under Grobe, Wake Forest played in five more bowl games.

He resigned after the 2013 season.

“It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to join the Baylor football program during this important time,” Grobe said in a statement released by the school.

“I am looking forward to getting to know and working with the coaches and players in the coming days, and I have great respect for Baylor as an institution and its long-standing heritage.

“As a coach, winning is important. At the same time, I want to assure the Baylor family that every decision we will make in this football program will be made with Baylor University, her students and our student-athletes in mind.”