Briles gets OK to lead Texas high schoolers

Mount Vernon High School in East Texas executed a Friday night news dump last week, announcing the hiring of Art Briles as its new football coach ahead of the threeday Memorial Day weekend.

On Tuesday, Jason McCullough, superintendent of the Mount Vernon Independent School District, finally answered questions about the decision to hire Briles, who Baylor University fired three years ago after an investigation found at least 17 women reported being sexually assaulted by 19 of his football players and that Briles did little to hold those players accountable.

McCullough said the school district vetted Briles but was not able to talk with any of the Baylor victims or to NCAA investigators.

“We believe that coach Briles was sincere in expressing remorse over what occurred at Baylor while he was employed there,” McCullough said.

In 2017, the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Briles had been hired as an assistant, only to rescind the offer the same day.

This year, Briles interviewed to be the offensive co-ordinator at Southern Mississippi and seemed on track to land the job until school officials blocked the move.

Several high school coaches contacted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram had no problem with Mount Vernon’s decision.

“I don’t see anything wrong,” said one.

“Having a coach of Art’s calibre in high school again is good for football and really good for Mount Vernon. I don’t believe it’s a bad look for high school football in Texas. I would play Mount Vernon now,” said another.

“It’s great for the game,” said one more.

None of those coaches would allow their names to be used in connection with those quotes.