Art Briles, the former Baylor football coach fired three years ago after an investigation found the school had mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct and violence, has been hired to lead an East Texas high school program.
Mount Vernon High School said its board of trustees approved a two-year contract for Briles on Friday. In a statement, the school billed Briles’ hiring as a return “back home” for the coach.
“He brings with him a wealth of not only football experience but also life experience,” Mount Vernon Independent School District superintendent Jason McCullough said in a statement. “He is passionate about investing in the lives of young people and helping them to succeed both on the field and in life. After a thorough due diligence process and several earnest conversations, we believe our students will benefit greatly from his skills and experience.”
Briles, who was 65-37 in eight seasons with Baylor, had a successful 20-year career as a high school coach in Texas before making the jump to college.
“I began my coaching career in the Friday night lights of Texas high school football, and I’m looking forward to returning to my roots,” Briles said in Mount Vernon’s statement. “I have learned many lessons during my time as a coach. Some lessons are born out of success and others out of failure. But they all present opportunities to grow, to learn, and to teach, as we strive for excellence both on and off the field.”
Briles had not been able to land a job in coaching in the United State since being let go by Baylor. He was hired by Hamilton in the Canadian Football League in 2017, but after public backlash the Tiger-Cats quickly rescinded the move. He was later hired in 2018 to coach a professional American football team in Florence, Italy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.