It's not unusual for former coaches to stop by practice, nor is it unusual for a family member of a coach to watch practice. But if that former coach and family member is Art Briles, it's going to draw some attention.
The former Baylor coach was a spectator on the practice field Monday, getting a good look at the Bulldogs and his son-in-law, head coach Jeff Lebby.
Art Briles, fired Baylor coach and Jeff Lebby father-in-law, at Mississippi State football practice https://t.co/FQEEMZUqPm
— Clarion Ledger (@clarionledger) August 4, 2025
Briles has been persona non grata around college for several years since he was dismissed from Baylor as the result of lack of institutional control. He took a job in 2022 as the offensive coordinator at Grambling State, but resigned within a week because of all the negative attention the hiring received.
There hasn't been as much negative attention to Briles visiting for practice, possibly because he is Lebby's father-in-law. But just to make sure there wasn't any confusion, the MSU athletic department quickly got out the message that Briles was just there to support his family and was not going to become a member of the staff or program in any fashion.
"Our football program and entire athletics department prides itself on being a family environment," MSU said through a spokesperson in a statement sent to The Clarion Ledger. "Family members are welcome at practices with the understanding that team boundaries and focus are respected.”
The timing of Briles' visit was probably not a coincidence. It's the end of the summer sessions in Starkville and most students won't return to campus for a couple of weeks.
Briles went from Big 12 champion to coaching pariah
Briles was the head coach at Baylor from 2008 to 2016 and is arguably the most successful coach in the school's history. He led the Bears to 10-win seasons in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with consecutive Big XII championships in 2013 and 2014.
But his coaching career was derailed after Baylor was named in a series of Title IX lawsuits claiming members of the football program committed sexual assault against women on campus. Briles was suspended with intent to terminate in May 2016 and eventually reached a financial settlement with the school for a reported $15.1 million.
Briles later went on ESPN and, in an interview with Tom Rinaldi, he apologized and took full responsibility for his downfall at Baylor.
"I understand I made some mistakes," he said. "There was some bad things that went on under my watch. I was the captain of this ship. The captain of the ship goes down with it."
Lebby’s ties to Briles run deep on and off the field
Lebby was an assistant under Briles during his entire tenure at Baylor. He started as an assistant director of football operations in 2008 and eventually became the running backs coach and then the passing game coordinator.
He married Briles' daughter, Staley, in 2011 and the couple have two children. Lebby's brother-in-law, Kendal Briles, is the offensive coordinator at TCU.