Baylor hires Jim Grobe as acting football coach; AD resigns

WACO, Texas — Scrambling to find a coach to lead its football program through a tumultuous time, Baylor hired a man known for turnarounds and integrity.

A little more than an hour after Grobe’s hiring was made official, Baylor announced that athletic director Ian McCaw had resigned, severing another tie with the sexual-assault scandal that has tarnished the school’s reputation.

Briles was ousted and McCaw placed on probation by Baylor last week after the release of a report commissioned by the Waco, Texas, school that accused university leadership of not responding to or inappropriately handling allegations of sexual assault, some by members of the football team.

[...] I want to assure the Baylor family that every decision we will make in this football program will be made with Baylor University, her students and our student-athletes in mind.

There was speculation and unconfirmed reports following the move to dismiss Briles that Baylor would promote defensive coordinator Phil Bennett to interim head coach.

“Jim Grobe is the right leader at this time to move Baylor University and the football program forward,” McCaw said in a statement before announcing he was stepping down.

In 2003, Baylor basketball coach Dave Bliss stepped down after it was revealed he encouraged players to lie about a player who had been killed by a teammate.