STARKVILLE — Jeff Lebby is standing by his decision to let former Baylor coach Art Briles attend a recent Mississippi State football practice.
Briles was fired by Baylor in 2016 after an investigation into multiple sexual assault accusations in the program. He is also the father-in-law of Lebby, Mississippi State‘s second-year coach.
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Asked at a news conference Aug. 10 if there are boundaries for Briles — who’s not part of the program — being at practice, Lebby said there weren’t.
“Coach being here was with family,” Lebby said after MSU’s scrimmage. “I think that was addressed. We want family at practice. We want family at scrimmages. That, for me, is special and that’s how it’s going to continue.”
Briles was present at the Bulldogs’ Aug. 4 practice during a 25-minute viewing window for media. He was wearing a Mississippi State hat, shorts and shoes while conversing with several staff members, including Lebby.
A Mississippi State athletic department spokesperson confirmed after the practice that Briles is not part of the team and isn’t being hired.
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Briles was fired by Baylor after an internal investigation of the university’s handling of an extensive number of sexual assault accusations, including those against players on the football team during Briles’ tenure. An NCAA investigation cleared him of any NCAA violations in 2021, but was critical of Briles’ actions at Baylor.
He has not coached at the college level since being fired by Baylor, other than a four-day stint as the Grambling State offensive coordinator in 2022. He resigned, citing that he’d be a distraction to the team.
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Lebby was a coach on the Baylor staff under Briles from 2008 to 2016, with various roles such as assistant director of football operations, running backs coach and passing game/offensive recruiting coordinator.
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“Our football program and entire athletics department prides itself on being a family environment,” the MSU spokesperson said in a statement to The Clarion Ledger after the Aug. 4 practice. “Family members are welcome at practices with the understanding that team boundaries and focus are respected.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jeff Lebby: Art Briles ‘family’ at Mississippi State football practice
