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Houston attempts to quell speculation regarding toxic head coaching candidate Art Briles
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With Tom Herman leaving for Texas, the vacant Houston head coaching position has gotten plenty of interest from coaches across the country.
Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Houston offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, Houston defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, and former LSU head coach Les Miles have been mentioned as leading candidates.
One other interesting name bandied about is Art Briles. Briles was fired from Baylor due to the football program sexual assault scandal. Prior to that, he completely turned around a once-dilapidated program into a power in the Big 12.
Art Briles is so toxic a school went on the record about its coaching search just to say it doesn't involve him. https://t.co/7ZdgMulaIq
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) December 3, 2016
Briles had been the head coach at Houston for five years — before taking the job in Waco. His explosive, fast-paced style of offense has helped to revolutionize the game.
A recent report had Briles set to interview for the UH job. However, Vice President Hunter Yurachek squashed these rumors rather quickly:
Statement from Houston on its coaching search as it relates to Art Briles: pic.twitter.com/3wydfXzvST
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) December 3, 2016
The athletic department clearly has no plan to even entertain the idea of bringing Briles back. While his track record as a football coach is very strong, the newfound baggage surrounding him is certainly something to take into account.
A Houston booster (Tillman Fertitta) had been rumored to be supporting the idea of having Briles be a real option for the job. However, he also has denounced those rumors:
https://twitter.com/38Godfrey/status/805129933949468677
