Southern Mississippi passes on Briles
Southern Mississippi is no longer considering former Baylor coach Art
Briles for the offensive coordinator position in its football program.
“We have met with Art Briles regarding a position with the Southern Miss football program,” the school said in a statement released on Wednesday. “Following that meeting, we informed him that he is not a candidate. The University will have no further comment on this matter.” In a statement to Brett
McMurphy of @WatchStadium, Briles said “I appreciate the trust and support of (Southern Mississippi) Coach ( Jay) Hopson — I was informed by the Interim AD today, that the ongoing NCAA investigation with Baylor and me was the main issue (on not being hired at Southern Miss)”
Hopson told @WatchStadium that Briles “is a man who deserves a second chance.
“He is a man that seemed sincere and humble in his interview and personally he committed no crime. He may not have acted in proper protocol but that would be my job.”
Baylor fired Briles in May 2016 during the sexual assault scandal at the country’s largest Baptist university.
The school’s investigation (conducted by the Pepper Hamilton law firm) said the school and the athletics department created a “cultural perception that football was above the rules.
“In certain instances, including reports of a sexual assault by multiple football players, athletics and football personnel affirmatively chose not to report sexual violence and dating violence to an appropriate administrator outside of athletics,” the report said.