Art Briles signs 10-year Extension with Baylor
I think not OT, as it relates to Michigan's staff: he and his coordinators have been mentioned (by some on this site) as potential replacements for Borges (and/or Hoke), but it looks like Briles at least isn't going anywhere. I wonder if his offensive staff will look to make a leap somewhere else, since there is seemingly no way to get promoted now while staying at Baylor.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^
Stuck with him? He's turned that puppy around. I think he gets to retire on his own terms. Now, they may go through something like what we've been going through if they don't have a good succession plan but they probably have another 2-3 years before Mack decides to retire from the team. I can't believe that Gerg has helped to turn that ship around.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
Mack Brown and Greg Robinson finish the season with the #2 ranked Baylor offense, the #4 ranked Texas Tech offense, and Oklahoma State averaging 40 PPG.
Taking two of three will get him off the hot seat, but if they finish 8-4 I don't think he will survive. Not with fans beating the drum for Nick Saban.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
That's one beefy extension. You don't see a number like that today.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
A coach can only get a 10-year extension if they give their team a decided schematic advantage.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
He's created something pretty amazing over there.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
Amazing may be a little much as he's in year 6 at Baylor and still boasts an overall losing conference record and 1 (probably 2 after this year) double digit win season. He's certainly turned Baylor around though.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
19-12 after year 2---and 15-8 the last 3 years (while also 26-8 overall). Given his 3 predecessors combined record of 31-94, "amazing" seems an entirely a fair word. It's Baylor after all.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
An amazing turnaround I'd agree with.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 9:49 AM ^
No one should be given 10 year deals.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
...I disagree.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^
Just think we could have had that staff or even Jim Harbaugh......
Instead of the most predictable offense ever created (thanks AL)
November 14th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^
So you'd be happy with a 22-25 conference record and a sub .600 overall winning percentage? I'm just saying, Baylor's offense is very exciting, but it hasn't translated into a ton of success outside of a couple of seasons.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
that Baylor is terrible when Briles took over? Baylor was everybody's whipping team even the shitty team got to win against them because Baylor was so bad. He has won everywhere he has coached from HS level to college level. Took a bad Houston program into a annual bowl team. Took a really really bad Baylor into a national title contender.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
True. But his overall record at Baylor is what it is. He's had two truly successful seasons there. I'd like to see a little more before I pine for the lost days of wonder and Art Briles
November 14th, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
why you are so intent on minimizing Brile's accomplishments? Adding what he did at Houston to a remarkable turnaround at Baylor almost speaks for itself. I'll take the odds that Baylor stays strong into the forseeable future. You must disagree; otherwise, what's your point?
November 14th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
You have to look at what Baylor was before Art Briles got there, and what he accomplished. Not just wins and losses.
Before Art Briles, Baylor had 1 win over Texas A&M since 1986. Hadn't beaten Texas Tech since 1995. They hadn't beaten Texas since 1997 and never beat Oklahoma.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
Briles and Harbaugh were unknown quantities in 2007 and in fact Briles was having a bad time.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
Actually in 2007 Briles was still at Houston so no, Briles was having a good time winning his 2nd consecutive C-USA division title. Try again.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
In 2007, a guy with two C-USA titles evidently wasn't worthy of consideration for a job of Michigan's prestige. Not saying it was smart, but given the other candidates, Briles wasn't even on the radar.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^
Back to the original post, in what alternate universe was Briles "having a bad time"?
November 14th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
I thought 2007 was Briles' first year at Baylor. I missed.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
Art Briles wasn't on the radar because he didn't have Michigan ties. There was no chance they would hire another coach from outside the program right after RR was fired. Dave Brandon was only going to hire a Michigan Man.
November 14th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
Harbaugh wasn't really unknown if anyone was paying attention. From 2004 through 2006, He went 7-4, 11-1, and 11-1 in three seasons with FCS division University of San Diego. Granted, it was a minor division team, but that didn't prevent Stanford from grabbing him after the 2006 season. That would have been the best time for Michigan to hire him too, but Carr made the decision to hang on for another year, and by then Harbaugh was ensconced in Palo Alto. Whether Harbaugh would have accepted a Michigan offer if Carr had retired after the 2006 season is anyone's guess.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
I remember hearing, maybe in Three and Out, that Carr actually wanted to leave after 2006, but that Martin convinced him to stick around an extra season to give him more time to look for a replacement.
Typing that out, it sure sounds far fetched, though, given how that coaching hunt went.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
It's true. At least, the part about Martin convincing Carr to stay. Whether Martin understood that Carr was likely to retire the following year is unclear.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
"Whew, now I don't have to think about that ever again..." - 2006 Ed Martin
"Oh shit! I am so boned." - 2007 Ed Martin
November 14th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
I know that Bill Martin isn't too popular around these parts, but "Ed Martin?" Jeez, that's cold....
November 14th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^
Ha! Yikes...sorry, guys.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
I should clarify that when I say "unknown quantities" I mean in relation to the other coaches on the radar. Whether or not the prospective group was chosen or evaluated intelligently is another discussion.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
Granted, it was a minor division team, but that didn't prevent Stanford from grabbing him after the 2006 season. That would have been the best time for Michigan to hire him too,But you have to keep in mind that Stanford was down in the dumps at this time. They went 1-11 the year before Harbaugh came. It was precisely because they were so bad that they could dare to take a risk like hiring a non-DI coach. If they had been, say, 6-6, they probably wouldn't have.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
Good point. It would have been an interesting decision to say the least. At least Harbaugh had not yet stated that Bo prevented him from majoring in history and that Stanford was his dream school.
Alternative histories are pointless yet fun...
November 14th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
No offense to Baylor, especially since Art may truly believe he wants to stay there for 10+ years, but if he continues to have sustained success there, that's just not a program you stay at for that long. That said, I didn't see in that article any mention of a buyout clause. Is it possible a major factor in Art agreeing to such an oddly long deal was in part due to Baylor putting in a fairly soft buyout clause in that contract? I don't think it's far fetched to think that this deal may in fact make it easier for Art to head elsewhere, as counter intuitive as that seems.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
he's a Texas guy through and through. He's comfortable within the state. Baylor is building a new football stadium with the state of art facility. They are committed to having a great football program and it wouldn't be possible without Briles. They literally had to take down the endzone tarp this year because the demand for the tickets is so high.
Plus, Baylor has quite a few NFL prospects on the team like Lache Seastrunk, Cyril Richardson, Sean Oakman, Ahmad Dixon, etc. which is more than what Michigan can say at the moment.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:33 AM ^
I would include Bryce Petty in that conversation.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
I'm suprised you are the 1st one to mention this; what's the buyout?
Todd Graham bolted Pitt after 1 year for ASU after signing a multi year deal and Steve Alford bolted New Mexico for UCLA after agreeing to an extension and IIRC, holding a presser to announce he was staying.
Length of contracts dont mean jack shit now-a-days.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^
So did Charlie Weis
November 14th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^
Briles seemed to be #2 or #3 on their list with Sumlin. We know who's #1.
November 14th, 2013 at 9:57 AM ^
John L Smith? Please tell me it's John L Smith.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
I find it very hard to believe that even Texas thinks that Saban is a realistic successor to Mack Brown, if that is indeed what you were hinting at. If Brown does get the heave-ho after this season, I have very little doubt it would come down Sumlin and Briles (at least in who Texas pursues the heaviest). To be honest, I think they would get neither anyways.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ^
November 14th, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
Not if we get Art Briles!
November 14th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
That new stadium they are getting is going to help a lot. Baylor should be a fun team for a while.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
Exactly. THe donations flowing into Waco to build that stadium are all because of Art Briles- that fan base has been dying for a winner for so long. My company has offices in Dallas and I know Baylor guys and this is the happiest they have ever been. And they are totally not like Texas fans about it. They are nice, like Nebraska fans and almost all SEC tailgaters except Gators who are very angry people.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
Good move for all concerned. Briles has done a great job there. He is getting paid enough money that he might not feel like jumping anyway. He has been in Texas his whole life. Maybe he believes he can win a National Chamionship there.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
Baylor is in the top 5 at BCS rankings and has backloaded schedule to help them out. They blew out Oklahoma and is expected to win the rest of the season. If Bama or FSU stumble, I think Baylor get into the NC championship game. Imagine Baylor of all the team, playing in the NC.