Hiring of Briles as assistant creates controversy for Tiger-Cats

Even on their bye week, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are managing to create controversy. The Ticats touched off a media firestorm Monday by announcing Art Briles will join new head coach June Jones’ staff as an assistant offence head coach. Briles, 61, was fired in May 2016 as Baylor’s head football coach after an investigation discovered the school mishandled numerous sexual assault allegations, including some against football players.

Briles’ appointment drew plenty of criticism on social media, including from Theo Fleury, the former NHL star who was sexually abused by his junior coach, Graham James.

“If you knew and didn’t say anything then you are just as much a part of rape as the people who committed rape. Shame on #CFL,” Fleury tweeted. Many other people urged CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie to step in and void Briles’ hiring. Late on Monday, the league issued a statement regarding the matter.

“The commissioner is in continuing discussions with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats regarding the hiring of Art Briles as a coach,” the statement said. “We will have no further comment until those discussions have concluded.”

The Ticats didn’t mention the circumstances of Briles’ firing from Baylor in their release. And there were no comments regarding the hire from Jones, vice-president of football operations Kent Austin or owner Bob Young. Scott Mitchell, the Ticats’ CEO, didn’t immediately return a telephone message. But Mitchell told 3DownNation, a football blog, that both Young and the CFL were well aware of Hamilton’s intention to hire Briles and the organization has no intention of rescinding the move.

“This is about giving someone a second chance and we’re committed to doing that,” Mitchell said. “For every reaction that you’re getting from social media and media, there’s a tremendous amount of support behind the scenes for a tough decision.

“I think a lot of people in this world, including myself, have made bad decisions and have regrets and I certainly feel strongly that in this case, Art Briles deserves a second opportunity.”