November 24th, 2025 7:00am
By Chuck Bitner, D2Football.com
Eastern New Mexico University Announces Hiring of Art Briles as Head Football Coach
Eastern New Mexico University has officially announced the hiring of Art Briles as head football coach, marking his return to college football after nearly a decade. Briles, 69, will look to revitalize an ENMU program that has not posted a winning season since 2019. The Greyhounds finished 3–8 in both 2024 and 2025 and recently parted ways with former head coach Kelley Lee.
Briles brings decades of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. He most notably served as head coach at the University of Houston (2003–2007) and Baylor University (2008–2015). At Baylor, Briles transformed a long-struggling program, compiling a 65–37 record, four 10-win seasons, and two Big 12 championships. Prior to his move to FBS college football, Briles coached at several Texas high schools, achieving his greatest success at Stephenville High School. From 1989 to 1999, he guided the program to four state championships and an overall record of 135–29–2.
While Briles brings enviable football credentials, he also carries the baggage of his controversial departure from Baylor in 2016 in the wake of the University’s investigation into sexual and non-sexual assault allegations involving multiple football players. Briles was terminated and the University’s President and Director of Athletics resigned. Briles filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Baylor that was later settled out of court. In 2021, an NCAA infractions panel delivered a report that heavily criticized his conduct, but concluded that no NCAA violations had occurred.
In the years since leaving Baylor, Briles has remained active in coaching. He returned briefly to Texas high school football, leading Mount Vernon High School to a 20–6 record over two seasons. He also coached internationally, including a season in Italy in 2018.