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Former Baylor coach returns to college football, sparking debate
PORTALES, N.M. — Art Briles stepped onto the grey gym floor inside Greyhound Arena this week wearing a black Eastern New Mexico University pullover, smiling and waving as dozens of players, fans, and staff gathered around him. The moment was quiet but unmistakably significant: for the first time since 2016, one of the most polarizing figures in modern college football was officially back on a college sideline.
Briles, 69, was introduced as ENMU’s new head football coach on Monday, marking his first college position since he was fired by Baylor University following the results of an external investigation into the school’s handling of sexual-assault allegations involving football players.
“I’m very excited, very grateful, very happy,” Briles told ESPN after his introduction. He added that he hoped the opportunity would be “a great moment” for both himself and the university. He said he is “a lot more knowledgeable about every situation” than he was during his previous college tenure.
A New Direction for a Program Searching for Stability
The Greyhounds compete in NCAA Division II’s Lone Star Conference, a league known for its physical style and deep Texas recruiting pipelines. ENMU has struggled to stay competitive in recent seasons, finishing near the bottom of the conference and searching for long-term footing after recent coaching turnover.
Athletic Director Kevin Fite, who previously worked with Briles at the University of Houston, said during the introduction that he and Briles had “long conversations” about the circumstances surrounding his exit from Baylor. According to reporting from the Eastern New Mexico News, Fite said Briles asked early in the process whether ENMU had a Title IX office and what policies were in place.
Fite said the university hired Briles because of his experience and potential to rebuild the program, but acknowledged the weight of the decision. ENMU did not release terms of Briles’ contract.
Briles Promises a Fresh Start
Speaking to fans and players, Briles outlined a familiar offensive vision and a focus on unity within the program.
“We’re gonna have fun. We’re gonna love each other,” he said, according to the Eastern New Mexico News. “We’re gonna get after the Lone Star Conference.”
Briles emphasized his intent to represent the university “in a first-class manner.”
For a program that has searched for a resurgence, the hire is seen internally as a move meant to increase visibility, improve recruiting, and energize a region that sits far from major football hubs.
The Baylor Background Remains Unavoidable
Briles’ tenure at Baylor ended in May 2016 after the release of a summary of findings from an independent Pepper Hamilton investigation into the university’s response to sexual-assault allegations involving football players. The summary cited failures in the football program’s handling of allegations and university processes.
Briles denied covering up allegations.
In 2021, the NCAA Committee on Infractions reviewed the case and noted that Briles displayed an “incurious attitude” toward potential misconduct reported to him. The NCAA concluded, however, that Briles did not commit NCAA violations and issued no penalties against him personally.
Briles later reached a settlement with Baylor reported as $15.1 million, according to outlets including Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports.
Documented Backlash Follows ENMU’s Announcement
Though ENMU officials expressed confidence in the decision, the school quickly faced significant criticism from national outlets and commentators.
A Yahoo Sports column described the hiring as a “calculated risk” and noted that criticism surrounding Briles “hasn’t really gone away.” The Houston Chronicle wrote that Briles “remains known for his controversial tenure at Baylor,” and the Dallas Morning News emphasized that the subject continues to evoke strong reactions nearly a decade later.
On ENMU’s official social media channels, posts announcing the hire drew significant engagement, including both messages of support and criticism. The university did not issue additional statements addressing the national reaction.
Previous Attempts to Return Fell Through
Briles’ path back to college football has been uneven.
In 2017, he briefly agreed to join the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats before the team reversed the decision the same day following public backlash. He later coached in Italy and then at Mount Vernon High School in Texas in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, he accepted the offensive coordinator job at Grambling State University but stepped down days later, saying he did not want to be a “distraction,” according to NBC Sports and the Associated Press.
ENMU marks his first college role since leaving Baylor.
Looking Ahead in Portales
Briles is expected to begin recruiting immediately, with spring football preparations set to follow early next year. No official staff changes have been announced, and ENMU has not yet detailed whether any roster movement is anticipated.
For supporters, the hire offers hope that a once-nationally recognized coach can help elevate a small Division II program. For critics, it represents a reminder of unresolved questions tied to one of college football’s most scrutinized scandals.
Whether ENMU’s gamble will pay off remains unknown, but one reality is clear: by bringing Art Briles back to the college game, the Greyhounds have placed themselves at the center of a national conversation that has followed him for nearly a decade.
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