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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baylor hires former Wake coach Grobe to replace Briles

Former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has been hired by Baylor to lead its football program. (SARA D. DAVIS / Associated Press)
By Ralph D. Russo Associated Press

Baylor has hired former Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe to replace Art Briles and lead its football program through a tumultuous time.

The school announced Monday that Grobe had been hired as the acting coach.

Briles was let go last week after the release of a report commissioned by the Waco, Texas, school that accused the successful coach of not responding to or inappropriately handling allegations of sexual assault and violence by members of his team.

Grobe, 64, has been out of coaching for two seasons. He spent 13 years with Wake Forest, leading the team to some of its best seasons. Grobe was 77-82, including an Atlantic Coast Conference title and Orange Bowl appearance in 2006. The Demon Deacons went to five bowl games under Grobe, half the school’s overall total.

He resigned after the 2013 season, his fifth straight at Wake Forest that ended with a losing record.

“It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to join the Baylor football program during this important time,” Grobe said in a statement released by the school.

“I am looking forward to getting to know and working with the coaches and players in the coming days, and I have great respect for Baylor as an institution and its long-standing heritage.