In what has been a tough day for the university of Baylor, the school's football program has dismissed head coach Art Briles following sexual assault allegations against the school. The initial decision was to suspend Briles, but the school chose to terminate him, while also moving President Kenneth Starr to a different position. Starr will stay with the school.
These ground-breaking moves stems from the school receiving an independent report about their response to sexual assault allegations. Baylor chairman, Richard Willis, stated "this investigation revealed the University's mishandling of reports in what should have been a supportive."
Starr is out as president, but will now be chancellor, and remain as a law school professor. Athletic Director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.
The school has also hired a law firm to contact the NCAA about potential rules violations.
The 60-year-old, Briles, had eight years remaining on a 10-year deal that he signed in 2013. He was said to be making $6 million per season, making him the highest-paid coach in the Big 12 Conference. It has not been revealed whether Briles negotiated a buyout with the Bears.
Numerous incidents include Briles recruiting two players who were dismissed from other programs for off-field problems. Former Baylor player Sam Ukwuachu was sentenced to jail time for sexually assaulting a women's soccer player. And Baylor star Shawn Oakman was arrested on a sexual assault charge.
Briles has had plenty of success on the field since being hired in 2007. After reaching his first bowl game in 2010, the coach lead the Bears to a 50-15 record since 2011, winning 10 or more games in four of the five seasons. Baylor also won at least a share of the Big 12 title in back-to-back seasons, including the school's first outright championship since 1980.
With all the success, came countless off-the-field problems, and on Thursday, the school decided that getting justice was much more important than winning.
These ground-breaking moves stems from the school receiving an independent report about their response to sexual assault allegations. Baylor chairman, Richard Willis, stated "this investigation revealed the University's mishandling of reports in what should have been a supportive."
Starr is out as president, but will now be chancellor, and remain as a law school professor. Athletic Director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.
The school has also hired a law firm to contact the NCAA about potential rules violations.
The 60-year-old, Briles, had eight years remaining on a 10-year deal that he signed in 2013. He was said to be making $6 million per season, making him the highest-paid coach in the Big 12 Conference. It has not been revealed whether Briles negotiated a buyout with the Bears.
Numerous incidents include Briles recruiting two players who were dismissed from other programs for off-field problems. Former Baylor player Sam Ukwuachu was sentenced to jail time for sexually assaulting a women's soccer player. And Baylor star Shawn Oakman was arrested on a sexual assault charge.
Briles has had plenty of success on the field since being hired in 2007. After reaching his first bowl game in 2010, the coach lead the Bears to a 50-15 record since 2011, winning 10 or more games in four of the five seasons. Baylor also won at least a share of the Big 12 title in back-to-back seasons, including the school's first outright championship since 1980.
With all the success, came countless off-the-field problems, and on Thursday, the school decided that getting justice was much more important than winning.
