Sports

AP Top 25 Podcast: Texas HS hires Art Briles ... Why?

01 of June 2019

AP Photo, Art Briles,FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, Baylor coach Art Briles walks the field before the NCAA college football team's game against Lamar in Waco, Texas. 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 Superintendent says its board of trustees has approved a two-year contract with Briles, who was 65-37 in eight seasons with Baylor. Before coaching in college, Briles had a successful 20-year career as a high school coach in Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Former Baylor coach Art Briles has returned to coaching football in the United States, landing a gig at a mid-sized East Texas high school.

The hiring of Briles by the Mount Vernon Independent School District was surprising to many. On the latest edition of the AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News joins AP’s Ralph Russo to discuss Briles’ return.

The coach was fired three years ago by Baylor amid a sexual assault scandal that also led to the departures of the athletic director and university president. Carlton talks about what went into Mount Vernon’s decision and why the school decided to make a move that will draw scrutiny and criticism.

Plus, way-too-early Big 12 power rankings.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://podcastone.com/AP-Top-25-College-Football-Podcast

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25