WACO, Texas (Houston Chronicle) – Baylor reportedly is moving on quickly in the wake of the decision to fire head football coach Art Briles.
ESPN reported Friday morning that the school has offered the interim head-coaching job to Phil Bennett, who served as defensive coordinator under Briles the past five years. Per the network’s Jeannine Edwards, Bennett is expected to accept the job.
Briles was fired Thursday in a massive administration shakeup that saw president Ken Starr demoted and athletic director Ian McCaw sanctioned and placed on probation following the release of an independent counsel’s report that blasted the school’s handling of sexual assault accusations against football players.
Per the ESPN report, Briles’ staff has been deluged with phone calls and texts from players asking how his firing will impact them and what they should do.
The report also said Briles’ assistants were “stunned and devastated” by the school’s decision to terminate Briles.
Bennett served as SMU’s head coach from 2002-07, where he was 18-51 at the Mustangs’ helm.