Baylor names Briles coach

Nov 29, 2007 - 2:23 AM WACO, Texas (Ticker) -- Baylor named Art Briles as its new football coach Wednesday.

Briles, who has coached the last five years at Houston, replaces Guy Morriss, who was fired on November 18 following a 3-9 season.

At Houston, Briles has posted a 34-28 record and guided the Cougars to four bowl appearances.

"Art Briles embodies all of the qualities that we seek in our head football coach," Baylor director of athletics Ian McCaw said. "Coach Briles is regarded as one of the top head coaches and offensive minds in college football as evidenced by Houston's record-setting offense.

"He is a relentless recruiter who may have as strong a set of recruiting contacts in the state of Texas as any coach in the country."

Houston (8-4) already has accepted an invitation to play in the Texas Bowl on December 28 against an undetermined opponent.

Briles will not coach the Cougars in the bowl game. Just hours after his resignation, Houston named Chris Thurmond as interim coach.

Prior to taking the job at Houston, Briles spent four seasons as the running backs coach for Texas Tech.

"My charge to director of athletics Ian McCaw was to locate a championship-caliber head football coach who embraced Baylor's Christian mission, and could lead, inspire and win with integrity," school president Dr. John M. Lilley said. "Ian has done an outstanding job and brings forward in Art Briles a person who can begin a new era for Baylor University football."

The Waco Tribune-Herald reported on its web site that McCaw also interviewed San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Mike Singletary, a former Baylor All-American and an NFL Hall of Famer.

In five years, Morriss posted 18-40 record, including a woeful 7-33 mark against Big 12 Conference foes.