Rhule for Baylor is to build program and new culture in 2017

WACO, Texas—New Baylor coach Matt Rhule is focused on trying to build a program, not a team. Building a culture, not an attitude.

And Rhule says that approach isn’t dictated by the Bears having to deal with the aftermath of a sexual assault scandal that includes ongoing lawsuits, investigations and possible NCAA sanctions.

“That’s what I would have done at Temple,” said Rhule, who is coming off consecutive 10-win seasons with the Owls. “All it is, is we try to build a culture of excellence where everything counts. What you do off the field, what you do in the classroom, how you treat other people is just as important as how you run a curl, how you run a post . ... We’re trying to make sure our kids know what it means to be a man.”

Since taking the Baylor job last December, when he also had an offer from another Power Five school, Rhule has confronted head-on the situation that he inherited—and worked to make sure the same mistakes don’t happen again at the world’s largest Baptist university.

“There’s been a lot of sadness, but hopefully there’s hope, and hope that we can have a great new future,” said Rhule, the son of a minister and former coach.

The Bears were 7-6 last season under acting head coach Jim Grobe, and the assistants from the staff of former two-time Big 12 champion head coach Art Briles. Three weeks after Rhule was named coach with Grobe still in charge on the field, the Bears beat Boise State in the Cactus Bowl to snap a six-game losing skid.

Baylor goes into this season with new assistant coaches, new schemes on both sides of the ball and the hopes for a fresh start.

“All we can do is push forward, push forward and be those upstanding guys that we know we are, regardless of what people say,” said defensive end K.J. Smith, a third-year starter. “Just be who we know we are and just try to change the narrative.”