Baylor Coach Art Briles Named Big 12 Coach of the Year

Baylor coach Art Briles is the unanimous pick as the AP Big 12 coach of the year.

The Bears had never had a winning record in the Big 12 before Briles arrived six years ago. They are now Big 12 champs and headed to the Fiesta Bowl.

Briles got all 20 votes in the balloting by media members who cover the Big 12 on a regular basis. The award was announced Tuesday, a day after the 11-1 Bears had six first-team selections on the AP All-Big 12 team.

The Bears beat Texas 30-10 on Saturday to clinch their first outright title in any league since the 1980 Southwest Conference championship.

When Briles arrived, Baylor was 35-101 overall in its 12 seasons as a Big 12 member under four different coaches.