Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby apologizes, calls Art Briles’ on-field appearance a ‘distraction’

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby issued an apology after ex-Baylor trainer Art Briles, Lebby’s spouse’s father, used to be noticed strolling along him following the Sooners’ Sept. 9 house win in opposition to SMU. Lebby, in a prepared statement all through his Monday press convention, referred to as Briles’ appearance a “distraction” and vowed that the placement “will not come up again” after talking with Sooners trainer Brent Venables and athletic director Joe Castiglione. 

“One, [I] just want everyone to understand, my father-in-law, his presence on the field after the game is something that created a distraction and I apologize for that,” Lebby stated. “That was not the intent at all. The intent was just to celebrate with my family. I do want to correct some reports that said that he had a sideline pass, he did not have a sideline pass given out. He was only on the field when other families were down there and were present. Joe Castiglione, Coach [Brent] Venables have both expressed concerns with me, talked to me about it to make sure that everyone understands that this is something that will not come up again.”

The sight of Briles dressed in OU-branded equipment at the box sparked backlash amongst Sooners enthusiasts conscious about his embattled previous. Briles has now not coached on the main collegiate stage since he used to be fired from Baylor in May 2016 amid a sexual attack scandal that rattled the Bears soccer program. 

Venables, all through his postgame press convention, stated he used to be blind to Briles’ on-field presence till moments prior to taking the rostrum.

“I was made aware of it, just before I came in here, that [Briles] was [on the field],” Venables told reporters. “That’s being dealt with.”

Castiglione later issued a remark through which he condemned Briles’ on-field presence and stated the placement violated limitations the college had set. 

“I was just as disappointed as many of our fans when I learned of the postgame situation tonight,” Castiglione wrote. “It shouldn’t have happened and it was my expectation it never would, based on boundaries we previously set. I’ve addressed it with the appropriate staff.”

Briles, 67, compiled a 99-65 report as a school trainer between stops at Houston (2003-07) and Baylor (2008-15) prior to his dismissal as Bears trainer forward of the 2016 season. Briles returned to the state of Texas as a highschool trainer at Mount Vernon from 2019-20. He used to be set to go back to the school ranks in 2022 because the offensive coordinator at Grambling State however resigned in a while after accepting the process amid intense backlash. 

Lebby isn’t Briles’ simplest circle of relatives connection to a present Big 12 soccer training group of workers. Briles’ son, Kendal, is in his first season as TCU’s offensive coordinator. Briles, at the side of Lebby, frolicked operating for Art all through his training tenure at Baylor.