Longtime Baylor Bears strength coach Kaz Kazadi has been reassigned to a role outside the athletic performance staff, a school spokesperson confirmed Friday.

Kazadi was hired by former coach Art Briles in 2008 and held the title of associate athletic director for athletic performance. He played a major role in the football team's rise to national prominence and was one of the few remaining holdovers from Briles' staff.

"Baylor Athletics acknowledges his years of service, and we appreciate his focus on our student-athletes and programs," the school said in a statement.

Kazadi, who was lauded for his efforts to help rebuild a football program that won back-to-back Big 12 titles in 2013 and 2014, remains an employee of the university, according to the spokesperson.

Several current and former Baylor football players, including former receiver Jay Lee, expressed disappointment Friday that Kazadi would no longer be involved with the football program.

Can't believe coach Kaz isn't at BU anymore. The man gave his everything to make us better men in the weight rm, on and off the field — Jay Lee (@AirTraffic_Lee4) March 24, 2017

Baylor players praised Kazadi for holding the team together last summer after Briles was fired as a result of the university's independent investigation into its response to sexual assault complaints. Interim coach Jim Grobe retained Kazadi and the rest of Briles' coaching staff for the 2016 season.

When new Baylor football coach Matt Rhule was hired in December, he did not retain any of Briles' assistants and brought his Temple strength and conditioning staff with him to Waco.