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Former Baylor head football coach Art Briles has been hired in the same role at Division II Eastern New Mexico, the school announced Monday.

Briles, 69, has been largely out of college football since he was with a 99-65 career record. The former Big 12 Coach of the Year replaces Kelley Lee, who was fired last week after the Greyhounds concluded the 2025 season with a 3-8 record.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great moment for me,鈥� Briles said during his introductory news conference Monday. 鈥淚 hope it鈥檚 a great moment for this university. I鈥檓 extremely excited to start this journey, this new chapter in our lives.鈥�

ENMU Athletic Director Kevin Fite said he understood hiring Briles was 鈥渦nique and surprising,鈥� but lauded him for his on-field accomplishments and as a 鈥渞ole model鈥� off it. Fite did not directly address the circumstances of Briles鈥� firing at Baylor during the news conference.

Fite previously worked with Briles when the former worked as the University of Houston鈥檚 associate athletic director for compliance and eligibility. Briles served as the Cougars鈥� head coach from 2003-07.

鈥淲hat I want our university community to understand is, I know Art Briles,鈥� Fite said. 鈥淚 know his family. I know his commitment to impacting the lives of young people. I know he is a tremendous leader.鈥�

In his eight seasons at Baylor, Briles compiled a 65-37 record and resurrected a previously struggling program. He led the Bears to Big 12 titles in 2013 and 2014, but was suspended and then fired amid made against some of his players.

Baylor Athletic Director Ian McCaw and President Kenneth Starr also resigned in the wake of the scandal, one that led to four years of NCAA probation for the football program.

Briles later sued the school for wrongful termination and the case was settled in 2018 with Baylor . He later acknowledged he had against his players; Briles was not penalized by the NCAA, but was in a 51-page report put out by an NCAA infractions panel in 2021.

鈥淲hen (Briles) received information from a staff member regarding potential criminal conduct by a football student-athlete, he did not report the information and did not personally look any further into the matter,鈥� the panel reported. 鈥淗is incurious attitude toward potential criminal conduct by his student-athletes was deeply troubling to the panel.鈥�

When asked about how his perspective has changed since he was fired by Baylor, Briles said he was more concerned about what lies ahead at ENMU than his 鈥渓ast chapter.鈥�

鈥淚 kind of learned through the process that a lot of times what鈥檚 (unsaid) is best said 鈥� People can form their opinions,鈥� he added.

Since his dismissal at Baylor, Briles, a native of Rule, Texas, has coached at a Texas high school and in the Italian Football League. He was in 2022, but stepped down four days later amid public outcry.

After word of his hiring was reported Sunday, Briles said he had to turn off his phone due to a flood of well-wishes from former players and coaches.

Former Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III posted via social media that he was happy for Briles, adding he would visit the Portales-based campus to support the program.

鈥淗e is a great father and coach,鈥� Griffin wrote on X. 鈥淭hank you (Eastern New Mexico) for blessing him with this opportunity.鈥�

Former UNM baseball coach Ray Birmingham serves on the five-member ENMU Board of Regents. Monday, he told the Journal he trusts Fite and ENMU President James Johnston but admitted to a 鈥渢wofold鈥� reaction to the Briles hire.

鈥淚 think it will turn out great, but there鈥檚 always a bit of caution when you鈥檝e had these things happen in the past,鈥� Birmingham said. 鈥淪o we鈥檒l keep a close eye on that.鈥�

A former receiver at the University of Houston, Briles coached Texas high school football for 20 years before joining Texas Tech鈥檚 staff as a running backs coach in 2000. He was tabbed as the head coach at his alma mater three years later, leading the Cougars to a 34-28 record and one Conference USA championship over five seasons.

Briles was hired by Baylor in 2007 and led the program to unprecedented success while garnering a reputation as an offensive guru.

The Bears led the country in total offense in 2013.

鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna have fun,鈥� Briles said Monday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna love each other, and we鈥檙e gonna get after the Lone Star Conference.鈥�

Briles is married to his wife, Jan, and they have three adult children 鈥� Jancy Briles, Staley Lebby and Kendal Briles. Kendal is the offensive coordinator at TCU.

His son-in-law, Jeff Lebby, is the head coach at Mississippi State. Jeff鈥檚 father (Mike) 鈥� whom Briles called his 鈥渂est friend鈥� 鈥� and brother (Kyle) played football at ENMU.