Baylor University head football coach Art Briles was fired Thursday.
The move comes as the school released the findings of Pepper Hamilton, the law firm hired to investigate Baylor's response to sexual assault allegations. The school also announced university president and chancellor Ken Starr will maintain his role as chancellor and remain a professor in the law school. Athletic Director Ian McCaw has been “sanctioned and placed on probation”.
In apress release, the University Board of Regents “apologize[d] to Baylor Nation” for its response to sexual assault. The university, according to the law firm’s investigation, failed to “take action to identify and eliminate a potential hostile environment, prevent its recurrence or address its effects.”
“We were horrified by the extent of these acts of sexual violence on our campus. This investigation revealed the University's mishandling of reports in what should have been a supportive, responsive and caring environment for students,” said Richard Willis, chair of the Baylor Board of Regents.
In 2014, former Baylor football player Tevin Elliot was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 2015, Sam Ukwuachu – another former football player – was convicted of sexually assaulting another athlete, and last month, Baylor Defensive End Shawn Oakman was charged with sexual assault and have since bonded out of jail. Baylor faces other accusations of mishandling sexual assault cases.
The report found specific failings of Baylor’s football program and leadership within the athletic department. Among the law firm’s recommendations: Baylor should review all cases of sexual assault over the last 3 school years, and should work to offer “remedies” and identify cases for investigation. You can read the full repot here.
David Garland, dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, will serve as the interim president of Baylor.