Briles returns to Texas as his odyssey continues
MOUNT VERNON — Art Briles was back at his roots Monday, coaching a high football team in Texas after a season in Italy and more than three years after the two-time Big 12 champion coach was fired by Baylor in the wake of a sexual assault scandal.
Briles, 63, is coaching at Mount Vernon, a school just off Interstate 30 in East Texas between Dallas and the Arkansas line. He last coached high school 20 years ago, winning four state championships at Stephenville, which is located on the other side of Dallas.
“I knew there was a yes out there somewhere because I found a lot of no’s. But I was just thankful that the yes was here,” Briles said. “Honestly that’s why I went to Italy, because it was really the first opportunity that I had. It really didn’t matter to me where it was. It’s just if there’s a ball that looks funny, I want to be on the field with it.”
While expressing his gratitude about being home in Texas, where all of his coaching career has been except for the time in Italy, Briles didn’t discuss in depth his time at Baylor or departure from the school.
Attorneys Darrell Barger and Ernest Cannon said in a written statement handed out before Briles’ postpractice availability that he “understands and appreciates the public’s interest in what occurred at Baylor University.” But they said Briles is a defendant in a civil lawsuit brought against him in July 2018 related to 2014 incidents “that the plaintiff alleges were physical (non-sexual) assault by her former boyfriend.”
At practice in the Texas heat, Briles was upbeat as he tried to teach his new team — not knowing many of their names — the passing offense he has had such success with through the years. He said the kids “were unbelievable” though they certainly weren’t ready to play a game. They have some time before their Aug. 30 season opener.
Briles was hired by Mount Vernon on a twoyear contract in May after the school’s previous coach left for his alma mater.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. If this is the last dance, I’m good with it. I was good with Italy being the last dance,” said Briles, who acknowledged he knew nothing about Mount Vernon before that call.