Briles is the right man for Baylor

By John Hillman  |   Sunday, July 13, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Baylor Bears
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Rodney Dangerfield should have graduated from Baylor. Like the late comic, the Bears receive no respect in college football. Since joining the Big XII in 1996, BU’s conference record stands at an abysmal 11-85.

But Baylor may enjoy the final laugh with its hire of head coach Art Briles to run its woeful program. In his 29-year career, Briles, 52, has won in seemingly hopeless situations.

After bouncing through several high school jobs, Briles hit his stride at Stephenville (Texas) High School in 1988. Prior to his arrival, the Yellow Jackets hadn’t won a district title since 1952 and carried a 27-game losing streak with Brownwood, their biggest rival.

Twelve seasons later, the former University of Houston wide receiver left with four state championships under his belt. In both 1993-94 and 1998-99, the Yellow Jackets posted back-to-back titles.

Opposing teams dreaded playing Stephenville. Rival coaches not only contended with Briles’ imaginative offense, but they also faced the Can Fans, frenzied partisans who shook ball bearings encased in propane tanks, deafening all around them.

“He really did change the attitude of the entire school and town,” said Erath County Judge Tab Thompson, who played for Stephenville in 1973-74, and witnessed the team’s transformation as a fan 15 years later. “He’s a great motivator and very inspiring. He’s one of those leaders of men who has a special quality that’s tough to define, but you know it when you see it.”

Most coaches would have been content to ride Stephenville’s success all the way to retirement. But Briles never takes the easy road. In December 1999, he joined newly hired Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach’s staff as an assistant.

“It was gut-wrenching,” Briles said about the decision. “I’m not just leaving a job, I’m leaving family. I’ve known these players on varsity since they were six years old.”

After three years with the Red Raiders, the West Texas native took on a bigger challenge. He accepted the head position at the University of Houston, a school that had posted just eight wins in its three previous seasons.

Briles wasted no time transforming the down-and-out program. In his five years at the helm, Houston won 34 games and lost 28. The Cougars made four bowl trips and captured the Conference USA championship in 2006.

When Baylor released Guy Morriss after five losing seasons, many expected former All-America and All-Pro linebacker Mike Singletary to fill the position. But when negotiations with the San Francisco 49er assistant went south, Briles stepped into the spotlight. The Bears named him their 25th head coach on Nov. 28, 2007.

Facing another huge hurdle, the former high school head coach accepted the position with his eyes wide open. Relying on his past successes, he believes Baylor’s football fortunes will reverse.

“I realize what has happened, but I can’t concern myself with that,” he said. “What I can concern myself with is getting together with these guys and starting in a new direction. We are going to get on the field for 60 minutes, and we’re going to fight our tails off.”

In three months, Baylor fans witnessed recruiting progress. Briles convinced Copperas Cove quarterback Robert Griffin to switch his commitment to the Bears and snatched Pittsburg wide receiver Kendall Wright away from Oklahoma and Nebraska. Recruiting services awarded Baylor with their highest rankings in over a decade.

Winning games may take a little longer, however. The Bears engage eight preseason top 25 teams in 2008 (including non-conference foes Wake Forest and Connecticut). But with Briles running the show, more Baylor fans wear smiles rather than frowns these days. They believe the right man has the job.
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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today. ...
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