Baylor introduces Briles as new football coach

Baylor President John Lilley and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw today welcomed Art Briles to Baylor as the Bears’ new head football coach.

Briles spent the last five seasons as head coach at the University of Houston, leading the Cougars to four bowl games. In 2001, UH went 0-11; two years later, Briles had them bowling, and in five years, his Cougars had won the Conference USA championship. According to the UH website, only five other D-IA teams had made such a leap in the last 30 years. Only one coach has ever led Houston to more bowl games than Briles, the 2006 Conference USA Coach of the Year.

A year ago, Briles was named the Sportexe NCAA Division I-A Football Coach of the Year. After finishing sixth nationally in 2006 in yards per game, Briles’ Cougars have improved to No. 4 in the country this year, averaging 528.9 yards per game.

BaylorTV.com will offer archived video of the press conference.

Sic ’em, Coach Briles!