Written by A.J. Perez at USAToday.com
Art Briles said he still hasn’t seen the full results of the investigation that led to his dismissal as Baylor University’s football coach, among a slew of other personnel changes, at the school last week.
Briles issued a statement Thursday in his first public comments since the report led by the law firmPepper Hamilton claimed the school — and the football program in particular – failed to respond to accusation of sexual abuse and dating violence allegedly committed by Baylor football players.
“The report prepared by Pepper Hamilton, the law firm hired and paid for by Baylor’s Board of Regents, has not been shared with me directly, despite my full cooperation with the investigation,” Briles said in a statement to KWTX-News 10. “I can only assume that the report, which is not independent, supports the conclusions that the Board has already drawn. I hope to share with you what I was aware of as soon as I can so Baylor Nation can begin the healing process.”
The 13-page finding of facts —an abridged version of the report — was made available to the pubic on Friday.
The Baylor Board of Regents suspended Briles with the intention of firing him shortly after the results of the investigation were made public. Ken Starr was also removed by as president of the university, and later stepped down as chancellor. Athletic director Ian McCaw, who was suspended and put on probation, resigned on Monday.
Baylor tapped former Wake Forrest coach Jim Grobe as the interim football coach earlier this week.
“My heart goes out to the victims for the pain that they have endured. Sexual assault has no place on our campus or in our society,” Briles said in the statement. “As a father of two daughters, a grandfather, and a husband, my prayers are with the victims of this type of abuse, wherever they are. After 38 years of coaching, I have certainly made mistakes and, in hindsight, I would have done certain things differently. I always strive to be a better coach, a better father and husband, and a better person.”
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