The University of Baylor announced today that head football coach Art Briles has been suspended with intent to terminate after an independent report found that members of the athletic department and football program mishandled reports of abuse levied against the program. While this is shocking on the surface, it is not a surprise. 

Coaches in all sports need to realize that times are changing. Just because we live in a win at all cost society, doesn’t mean that coaches can run renegade programs where players are not held accountable. 

Art Briles is a good man and a good coach. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him as a coach. It’s obvious however that he sold his soul to win at Baylor. He gambled on talented players with questionable character. The approach may have paid in the win column but off the field these players committed heinous crimes and those crimes ultimately cost Briles his job. 

Now Baylor is left to pick up the pieces and it’ll be interesting to see where the administration goes from here.  They’ll have to fill the vacancy. Obviously it’s too late to hire an external replacement this late in the game so they’ll probably elevate defensive coordinator Phil Bennett or one of the other assistants. I know this much. Offensive coordinator Kendyl Briles will probably follow his old man out the door. 

Times are changing and football coaches better get with the times. If they don’t, they’ll end up getting shown the door like Briles did.