DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Former Baylor football coach Art Briles’ new team is in hot water with the University Interscholastic League.
Briles was fired from Baylor in 2016 amid a sexual assault scandal at the University. He took over as Head Coach for Mount Vernon High School in East Texas this year. Two of Briles’ players were ruled ineligible this week.
Kate Hector with the UIL said Wednesday that a sanctioned committee ruled that the two players moved into the district strictly for athletic purposes. The school won’t be punished further because the committee initially cleared the players before changing its mind when the UIL said new information “came to light.”
Mount Vernon ISD released the below statement:
We are disappointed by and disagree with the sudden reversal of field by the District 7-AAA Executive Committee but respect its decision. Facts presented at a previous meeting on this topic on Sept 18 resulted in the exoneration of the two students and validation of their athletic eligibility.
The DEC Tuesday voted 6-0 that the two students moved to our school district for athletic purposes as defined by UIL rules, despite what we believe to be overwhelming evidence that the parents moved from Colorado for employment reasons. The DEC also voted 6-0 that Mt. Vernon ISD used a coach not employed by the district in violation of UIL rules. It then voted 6-0 to give Mt. Vernon a public reprimand for allowing a coach on the field who was not employed by the school.
It is our understanding that NO games will be forfeited as a result of Tuesday’s actions.
Mt. Vernon ISD will contact the UIL Wednesday to begin the appeal process. We feel confident that once the facts are reviewed by the State Executive Committee, the decision to punish the two students will be overturned.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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