Jim Grobe wants to move the Baylor program forward. Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
New Baylor coach Jim Grobe is moving forward after the sexual assault scandal that rocked the football program and led to the dismissal of former coach Art Briles.
In an attempt to create some stability, Grobe said Friday at a news conference that he will retain Briles’ assistant coaches and also will work to keep the Bears’ incoming recruits. Among the assistants are Briles’ son, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, and his son-in-law, passing game coordinator Jeff Lebby.
Grobe, a former head coach at Wake Forest and Ohio University, was appointed Baylor’s interim coach earlier this week.
“Our goal right now is to steady the ship and be as consistent day to day as we possibly can be,” Grobe said.
Grobe, 64, has no plans to change Baylor’s offense or defense to help ease the transition for the players and assistants amid the upheaval.
“I think they’re excited they can continue to be coaches at Baylor University and take care of their families,” Grobe said. “And I think the players are excited to have their coaches still here.”
In addition to Briles, assistant athletic director for football operations Colin Shillinglaw and director of facilities Tom Hill were fired by the university. Athletic director Ian McCaw resigned and chancellor Ken Starr resigned after an investigation determined that Baylor coaches engaged in improper conduct and did not report misconduct of football players to authorities.
Grobe’s next task is to try to keep Baylor’s incoming recruits from attempting to back out of their national letters of intent. ESPN.com reported that at least seven players wanted to be released.
“The thing I didn’t want to do was knee-jerk and do something really quickly and then look back and wish we hadn’t,” Grobe said. “And I don’t want parents and kids to hurry up and make a decision right now. Everybody calm down and think things through, because I don’t know of a better place in America to get a degree from.”
