Sources close to the Baylor Administration confirmed to me today that Bears Coach Art Briles will be hired as Texas Tech’s next football coach
(Briles attended Tech and was assistant under Leach)
Contrary to previous reports, there is indeed a 10-day waiting period that Tech officials must observe before hiring Briles, but one of my sources told me the move is a “done deal.”
The 54-year-old Briles is an alumnus of Texas Tech, was a successful high school coach in Texas, the head coach at the University of Houston, and served as an assistant coach for the Red Raiders under Mike Leach from 2000-02.
I had previously predicted that Tommy Tuberville would be hired as the next Texas Tech coach, but I confirmed today that Briles will instead get the job.
Contrary to rumors floating around about Leach being a candidate for a Raiders coaching position, I was told yesterday by a source that the coach had not been in contrat with the Oakland organization.
Also, yesterday I reported that NBC’s Jay Leno Show was trying to book Leach as a guest. I learned last night that Leach has since turned the show down.
Leach was last seen in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
*UPDATE* (6:29p ET): I’ve been told that Texas Tech indeed raised the funds to pay Briles’ $4M contract buyout.
6:36 pm on January 6th, 2010
Check your sources…Tech just decided to not buyout his contract. Seems like it’s now between McNeill and Tuberville.
6:39 pm on January 6th, 2010
ABC in Lubbock Just said there will be no buying out of Briles contract.
7:18 pm on January 6th, 2010
Um…I think you’re wrong.
8:24 pm on January 6th, 2010
Two years of 4-8 football do NOT excite me about the possible Briles hire. Running Coach Leach off for such petty and personal reasons by the Three Stooges (Meyers, Bailey and Hance) is truly a horrific decision that will negatively impact Red Raider football for many, many years to come.
8:29 pm on January 6th, 2010
Our first hire should be the selection of a new Athletic Director…..then let him / her lead this coaching search. Gerald Myers is the REAL problem….with “Goofy” Guy Bailey and “Gomer” Kent Hance running a close second and third.
8:30 pm on January 6th, 2010
There is no need to buy out his contract……
Art Briles has 1 out in his contract “Head Coach @ Texas Tech”
….most coaches have Notre Dame; Florida; Texas; USC….
9:01 pm on January 6th, 2010
Get your facts straight. People with actual direct contact to
Tech’s chancello. Are quoting him as saying they will not offer Briles. Your info is a day old.
10:04 pm on January 6th, 2010
Stick to your guns, Brooks. You’re right on this one.
10:08 pm on January 6th, 2010
Can anyone believe what comes out of the chancellor or AD’s mouths anymore? The local media have put their money behind them and become yes-men to the administration, because they know they will need to be in their good graces in the future. And yes, Sowell has almost gotten away with a free pass from the local press. The whole thing is a shame.
11:19 pm on January 6th, 2010
I opted not to buy out the contract, after Mr. Briles opted not to interview with us.
11:25 pm on January 6th, 2010
Well done Brooks. Wrong again!
11:30 pm on January 6th, 2010
I am proud to be a Baylor Bear and remain committed to making this program a source of pride for the Baylor family. I feel good about the direction of our program and the foundation that has been built for future success.
12:02 am on January 7th, 2010
Might want to check your sources, lol. What a joke. Briles isn’t going to Tech. F’ing morons.
12:42 am on January 7th, 2010
RaiderFan the Tech out-clause was a fantasy concocted by Tech fans, and perpetuated by Baylor fans who hate their AD. Look at the emails obtained by the DMN. Tech officials and donors knew they had to pay a buyout. There has never been any proof of this fantasy out clause. In fact, there’s been evidence that it doesn’t exist. Unless you are the Baylor AD or part of his staff, you don’t know what the contract says because a private school does not have to publish their contracts as public records. Stop disgracing your university with stupid comments like that.
12:48 am on January 7th, 2010
Wow this is still on your home page? I hope this site is just a hobby…because you may need to consider a new career.
1:50 am on January 7th, 2010
http://www.redraiders.com/2010/01/06/briles-out-as-tech-candidate-search-might-widen/
I think your sources are wrong.
1:55 am on January 7th, 2010
Baylor’s AD, bless his heart, comes out tonight and claims Tech contacted him about talking to Briles, but Briles said he didn’t want to talk to Tech and that he was committed to staying.
If Ian really in his heart believes that, he’s probably in the wrong job. This is a game of poker, the best thing in this situation is to let things play out. Going public with a statement like that to put pressure on Briles is not going to make him more likely to stay. Very poor form.
As for the buyout, I was actually told last week that Briles had indicated to Tech that he was willing to help Tech himself buy it out. The buyout has never been a factor.
Money is somewhat incidental. For Tech’s admin, this is all about who gets the power and control.
Ask Leach.
2:28 am on January 7th, 2010
Well, you couldn’t be more wrong about this. I spoke tonight at length with one of about six people on planet earth who actually know the full sequence of events. Let me clear some things up…..first, there is not and never was any kind of “out” in Briles’ contract regarding Tech. Second, Tech did in fact have the money to pay Baylor the $4M, and made an unofficial announcement about it this afternoon. Hance, at Tech, thought if they had the money that Briles would take the job (and TT even suggested they’d have their new coach in place by Friday). Yesterday, Tech officially requested permission from Baylor to interview Briles. Baylor relayed that info to Briles, however, Briles has in his contract with BU a requirement that he submit his intent to interview with any other school in writing. This evening, Briles indicated that he would NOT be submitting such a notice and would be declining the interview with Tech. There is word from Tech that this was due to Briles receiving a re-working of his contract with Baylor (i.e., more money for himself or his staff) but there is nothing coming from BU that this occurred.
Now, Tech is left with a little egg on their face (and obviously not gonna have their coach by Friday)….and naturally they are saying that their big donor dropped out at the last second, and thus they couldn’t afford Brile’s buyout afterall. Though transparent, it is clearly an attempt to not look as though they had no plan in place….since their fan base is already poised to string them up as it is for firing Leach.
Tech is now choosing between Ruffin and Tuberville. They need to act quickly because several of their commits are now wavering.
2:50 am on January 7th, 2010
Here’s a Dallas Morning News article that gives the details
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/baylor/stories/010710dnspoleachblog.51ade65e.html
11:28 am on January 7th, 2010
who cares?
4:22 pm on January 7th, 2010
Stick to your west coast reporting. Because when you come into my state and report something this bogus it makes you, hmmmm, not a credible source.
This just in: The Jaguars are moving to LA. Some dude in Florida told me so.
5:02 pm on January 8th, 2010
Let me start by saying, I love Baylor University and these kids. However, it is with great regret that I announce my resignation as the head coach of the Baylor University Football program. This was not an easy decision for me and my family. We have made a lot of friends and have a lot of fond memories. We are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. Texas Tech has always been home for me. We look forward to building upon the great tradition and history at Texas Tech.
12:45 pm on June 9th, 2010
Baylor University is a great school and the students there deserve a good coach. I support you Briles all the way. When it comes to family and survival its his own personal business in what career path he chooses and no one elses.