Written by Jason Kirk at SBNation.com
Baylor’s hired a man with an impeccable name to replace a man who’ll never again have a good public reputation. Jim Grobe, most recently the head coach at Wake Forest from 2001 through 2013, takes over Art Briles’ staff for the 2016 season amid a university-wide sexual assault scandal.
Baylor needs as many people like Grobe as it can possibly hire. Our Wake Forest sitesays, years after he stepped down following a 4-8 season, that he has “unquestioned high character.” “From a character standpoint, Grobe is as good as it gets,” wrote Bruce Feldman. “I have never met a more humble major college football coach,” tweeted the AP’s Ralph Russo.
Grobe, the former eight-year chairman of the American Football Coaches Association’s Ethics Committee, once wrote this after suspending eight players:
Every decision we make in our football program and throughout our Athletic Department is with the future and well-being of Wake Forest and our student-athletes at heart. Winning is VERY important but it will not be pursued at the expense of our integrity. Our players need a reminder sometimes that their commitment to football extends beyond the practice field. We want our players to look back years from now and know that they were more important to us than winning a football game.
So, yes. Universally recognized good dude, and good dude who once took the freaking Demon Deacons to the Orange Bowl with an ACC championship.
Is he the long-term solution for Baylor?
Even with a few astounding seasons, his 110-115-1 career record at WF and Ohio looks more like 1990s Baylor than 2010s Baylor. You’d think the 64-year-old with no major Texas connections would have to go 9-3 or better to get a serious look. That’s not far-fetched with this roster, though, which is by far the most talented he’s ever had.
Ideally, he captains a sinking ship toward something like shore without anyone getting further embarrassed. As in, he does not pull a John L. Smith. Hiring an interim from outside the staff is a small luxury you get when your head coach is fired before the season, not during it.
To continue reading this article, click here.
