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25 worst college football coaching hires in history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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Sep 12, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Art Briles prior to a game against the Lamar Cardinals at McLane Stadium. Baylor 66-31. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Art Briles prior to a game against the Lamar Cardinals at McLane Stadium. Baylor 66-31. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Art Briles, Baylor

  • Hired: November 2007
  • Fired: May 2016
  • Record at Baylor: 65-37 (.637)
  • Career head coaching record: 99-65 (.604)

Art Briles was a Texas high school coaching legend. Briles posted a 165-46-3 record as a head coach in the state from 1984-99 while implementing an evolving high-octane offense that set national records. He joined Mike Leach’s staff as running backs coach at Texas Tech in 2000.

Three short years later, Briles earned his first college head coaching job at Houston, and led the Cougars to 34 wins and four bowl games in five seasons before he left for Big 12 doormat Baylor. The Bears hadn’t had a winning season since 1995, hadn’t been to a bowl since 1994, hadn’t finished a season ranked in the final AP poll since 1986 and hadn’t won a conference title since 1980.

It took a while, but Briles eventually checked each of those boxes. His explosive Baylor offense even produced the first Heisman Trophy winner in program history, Robert Griffin III, in 2011. By 2013, the Bears were a perennial national championship contender.

And then it all came crashing down. In December 2015, an independent investigation by the Pepper Hamilton law firm found that several members of Briles’ coaching staff impeded investigations into rape and sexual assault involving multiple Baylor football players.

Media attention grew, and in January 2016 ESPN’s Outside the Lines aired a damning interview with victims. Two months later, star player Shawn Oakman was arrested for sexual assault. On May 26, the Pepper Hamilton report was made public. Briles was fired shortly thereafter, and the scandal also led to the ouster of school president Ken Starr and the resignation of athletic director Ian McGraw. Sadly, we’re still learning of the wrongdoings of players, coaches, school administrators, and others connected to the crimes.

We don’t yet know what the final talGly will be, or what impact it will have on the program, but it’s clear that Briles’ tenure at Baylor has been tarnished and an incredibly heartbreaking series of events occurred while he was head football coach.

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