Speculation swirls around LU football job

Lamar fans fly their flags as they tailgate before Saturday's home game against Mississippi Valley State. Photo taken Saturday, September 7, 2019 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Lamar fans fly their flags as they tailgate before Saturday's home game against Mississippi Valley State. Photo taken Saturday, September 7, 2019 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Photo: Kim Brent / Kim Brent/The Enterprise Photo: Kim Brent / Kim Brent/The Enterprise Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Speculation swirls around LU football job 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Following the firing of Mike Schultz, speculation into the search for Lamar University’s next head football coach has included one of the most polarizing sports figures in recent memory.

Repeatedly mentioned among a handful of other candidates by athletic boosters and Lamar fans alike, former Baylor University coach Art Briles continues to “float around” as a possible answer to the Cardinals’ sudden coaching vacancy.

The Cardinal Club, Lamar’s official fundraising arm of the athletic department, held a regular-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, during which potential choices to replace Schultz were discussed by booster members for a portion of the hour-long session.

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Briles, who was fired from Baylor in 2016 amid a sexual assault scandal at the school, was one of the names mentioned. He spent this past season as the head coach at Mount Vernon High School, going 8-3 with a postseason appearance.

“His name did float around at the meeting today,” club president James Patton said of Briles. “It was acknowledged and talked about, but we didn’t specifically dwell on it. He does have a recognizable name that could bring some attention to the university.”

A Lamar spokesman declined to comment on whether Briles is being considered as a candidate.

Some in the Cardinal Club view him as an unattainable commodity for one reason or another, not the least of which being financial.

“When Briles was brought up, most people kind of just laughed,” said Sherrene Cook, a former president of the club who served on the search committee when Schultz was hired three years ago. “I’m not sure people think we could actually get (Briles) to Lamar.”

But Lamar does have capable athletic boosters who can make a difference when inclined. The Cardinal Club consists of roughly 250 members who pay dues at various levels. Only a $100 annual donation is required to stay in the club, according to its website, but athletic donations can range well into the thousands.

“We’re not like UT (Texas) who can just throw millions of dollars at a coach, but we do have boosters who are willing to give money when needed,” Patton said. “They are people who will get up to support Lamar if it’s the right thing or the right person.”

Briles is likely familiar with Lamar’s program. He coached against the Cardinals during a 2015 matchup between the schools in Waco, which the Bears won easily.

Moreover, athletic director Marco Born’s description of what he wants in a new coach seems to fit Briles’ background, save for the scandal.

“Someone that can win. I think it needs be someone who has Texas ties,” Born said during a brief meeting with a group of media members on Monday night. “You guys have probably seen that pattern with my recent hires. Someone who knows Texas and knows the high school coaches in the state of Texas and can connect with them.”

In the aftermath of Schultz’s firing, many fans took to social media to advocate for Briles filling the position in Beaumont. A national search firm has been retained by Lamar to assist in the next hiring, whomever it may be. A search committee assembled by Lamar will also play a role, as has been the case with previous athletic hires.

Born’s decision to cut ties with Schultz was met with mixed reactions by members of the Cardinal Club, as well as from current and former players. Some players, like first-team all-Southland defensive back Michael Lawson, have already announced they will transfer in light of Schultz’s departure.

Patton said Schultz’s firing “wasn’t unexpected,” and most members of the booster the club “understood” Born’s move. Cook, on the other hand, said she was “shocked” by the news.

“Schultz wasn’t my first choice when he was hired, but I was very sad that he was let go,” Cook said. “Not many coaches can turn around a team like he did last year taking Lamar to playoffs. But Marco is the AD and he has his plan.”

With the early signing period for recruits rapidly approaching, a hire is expected to be made sooner rather than later.

“I just want to see Lamar start winning again,” Patton said. “I want to get back to when we had the stands full again. We need someone who’s coming from a winning program and has a winning mindset.”

Matt Faye is a Sports Reporter and Columnist for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact him at MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.

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