Baylor To Fire Football Coach Briles, Re-Assign President Over Handling Of Sex Assault Allegations Against Players

WACO, Texas (CBSNewYork/AP) — Baylor University's board of regents says it will fire football coach Art Briles and re-assign university President Kenneth Starr in response to questions about its handling of sexual assault complaints against players.

The university said in a statement Thursday that it had suspended Briles "with intent to terminate." Starr will leave the position of president on May 31, but the school says he will serve as chancellor.

The university also placed athletic director Ian McCaw on probation.

Baylor asked a law firm last year to conduct a review of its handling of sexual assault cases following allegations that the football program mishandled several cases of players attacking women.

The university's statement said the review revealed "a fundamental failure."

In eight seasons at Baylor, Briles went 65-37, reached six bowl games and finished ranked in the AP Top 25 four times. The Bears were Big 12 champions in 2013 and co-champs in 2014.

Starr served as the independent counsel whose 1998 report on President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment.

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