On the heels of Baylor's announcement Thursday that it intends to fire head coach Art Briles, speculation turned to who would replace him, with defensive coordinator Phil Bennett being mentioned as a leading candidate for the interim job.
ESPN reports that Bennett was in fact offered the interim job on Thursday and is expected to accept the job on Friday.
Bennett, 60, has been the Bears' defensive coordinator since 2011. He served as SMU's head coach from 2002-07, and his coaching career dates back to the late 1970s.
Briles was suspended indefinitely with intent to terminate on Thursday as the school announced sweeping changes in the wake of the release of a report regarding how the school has handled allegations of sexual assault by students, including football players.
Baylor's release of the findings of law firm Pepper Hamilton's report revealed that in responding to allegations of sexual assault, the football staff "conducted their own untrained internal inquiries, outside of policy, which improperly discredited complainants and denied them the right to a fair, impartial and informed investigation, interim measures or processes promised under University policy," and that "Football coaches and staff took affirmative steps to maintain internal control over discipline of players and to actively divert cases from the student conduct or criminal processes."
Baylor also announced on Thursday that school president Ken Starr would be reassigned to chancellor. Athletic director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.
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