📰 Sources: Eastern New Mexico Set to Hire Art Briles as Head Football Coach

 📰 Sources: Eastern New Mexico Set to Hire Art Briles as Head Football Coach

In a controversial and high-profile move, Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), a Division II program, is reportedly set to hire former Baylor head coach Art Briles as its next head football coach.

Sources confirmed the agreement on Sunday night, November 23, 2025, marking Briles' first return to college football coaching in nearly a decade since his highly scrutinized firing from Baylor University in 2016. The university is expected to make the official announcement as early as Monday, November 24.

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I. The Return to the College Sidelines

The hiring by Eastern New Mexico, a school located in Portales, New Mexico, and competing in the Lone Star Conference, concludes a long period of professional exile for Briles from the college ranks.

• Last College Job: Briles was dismissed from Baylor in 2016 amid a massive sexual assault scandal within the football program and the university's systemic failure to properly investigate and address allegations of violence committed by players.

• ENMU Program Status: The Greyhounds recently dismissed head coach Kelley Lee after finishing the 2025 season with a disappointing 3-8 record. The program has not posted a winning season since returning from the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 seasons.

• The Connection: The move is heavily influenced by ENMU Athletic Director Kevin Fite, who previously worked with Briles at the University of Houston, where Fite served as associate athletic director for compliance and eligibility. This existing relationship is believed to have been critical in securing the high-profile hire.

Reports indicate that Briles has signed a multi-year contract, with some sources claiming a three-year deal that includes a significant buyout clause, reflecting the university's commitment to the polarizing hire.

II. The Baylor Controversy and Subsequent Attempts

Briles brings a successful coaching resume to ENMU, having amassed a 99-65 career college record at Houston and Baylor, including two Big 12 Conference championships. However, his tenure at Baylor remains the dominant focus of his professional narrative.

• NCAA Findings: An independent investigation commissioned by Baylor found that the football program under Briles fostered a culture of impunity. The NCAA later concluded that Briles "did not report potential criminal conduct" by one of his players when he learned of it, highlighting an "incurious attitude toward potential criminal conduct by his student-athletes."

• Public Backlash History: Since his dismissal, Briles has made several attempts to return to high-level coaching, all of which were scuttled by immediate public and professional outrage:

  • 2017: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL announced his hiring but quickly reversed the decision on the same day due to widespread criticism.

  • 2022: Briles accepted an offensive coordinator role at Grambling State University under head coach Hue Jackson but withdrew just four days later, stating he did not want to be a distraction.

Since 2016, Briles has coached at the high school level in Texas (Mount Vernon High School, 2019-20) and in the Italian Football League (Guelfi Firenze).

The decision by Eastern New Mexico to hire Briles, despite the immense controversy that has followed him for nearly a decade, immediately sparked intense debate across the college football community about second chances and accountability.