Art Briles returns to college football as Eastern New Mexico head coach

Art Briles has been announced as the new head coach for Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds as of August 23, 2026. This marks his return to coaching after being out of college football for over a decade, following his departure from Baylor amid a sexual assault controversy. Briles, 70, will implement his signature veer-and-shoot spread offense, aiming to turn around a program that has not had a winning record since 2019. The hiring has sparked mixed reactions, but Eastern New Mexico Athletic Director Kevin Fite expressed confidence in Briles' leadership abilities and connection to the community. Briles previously faced backlash when he was briefly hired as offensive coordinator at Grambling State in 2022 but stepped down before coaching.

• 4:13 PMYahoo Sports — 'Out of the blue,' Art Briles is back in college football. But why Eastern New Mexico?