Report: Former Baylor Coach Briles Breaks Silence Since Firing
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WACO (CBSDFW/105.3 THE FAN/AP) - It's been nearly a week since former Baylor University head football coach Art Briles was suspended, and ultimately fired, from his position amid the findings of a sexual assault scandal at the school.
Now, for the first time, Briles is speaking out via a statement released to Waco television station KWTX.
According to the statement, Briles "can only assume that the [Pepper Hamilton] report, which is not independent, supports the conclusions that the board has already drawn."
According to CBS affiliate KWTX, Briles admitted that he had not read the report from law firm Pepper-Hamilton because he was "contractually obligated to remain silent on the matter."
The Briles statement continued, "After 38 years of coaching, I have certainly made mistakes, and, in hindsight, I would have done certain things differently. I always strive to be a better coach, a better father and husband, and a better person."
The former Baylor University football coach also mentioned the victims of the sexual assault scandal by saying, "My heart goes out to the victims for the pain that they have endured. Sexual assault has no place on our campus or in our society. As a father of two daughters, a grandfather, and a husband, my prayers are with the victims of abuse, wherever they are."
"Keep in mind, the complete scope of what happened here has not been disclosed and unfortunately at this time I am contractually obligated to remain silent on the matter," he told News 10. "The report prepared by Pepper Hamilton, the law firm hired and paid for by Baylor's Board of Regents, has not been shared with me directly, despite my full cooperation with the investigation. I can only assume that the report, which is not independent, supports the conclusions that the Board has already drawn. I hope to share with you what I was aware of as soon as I can so Baylor Nation can begin the healing process."
Since the report was released, university president Kenneth Starr was demoted to chancellor, a position which he then left, and athletic director Ian McCaw also resigned.
Earlier this week, Baylor hired former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe to replace Briles.
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