The end has arrived for the Mack Rhoades era of Baylor athletics.
Baylor president Linda Livingstone announced Rhoades had made the decision to step away from his position of athletic director, effective immediately. The school announced last week that Rhoades was taking a leave of absence for “personal reasons.”
At the time, a university spokesperson told The Dallas Morning News Rhoades’ leave was unrelated to a sideline incident that occurred with Baylor tight end Michael Trigg during the Bears’ Sept. 20 game against Arizona State.
“Please join me in expressing heartfelt thanks to Mack for his years of dedicated service to Baylor,” Livingstone wrote in a statement. “We pray for him, Amy and his family as they embark on this next chaper.”
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Baylor is conducting an investigation into separate allegations, which the university was made aware of on Nov. 10, a spokesperson told The News. The allegations do not involve Title IX violations, NCAA rule violations, student welfare or the football program. The university declined to comment further on the nature of the allegations.
Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger later reported, however, that the allegations are related to a violation of the faith-based university’s policies and practices.
Rhoades also stepped down as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee last week.
Rhoades was hired at Baylor in July 2016 after the university fired football coach Art Briles in the wake of the school’s sexual assault scandal.
During his tenure, Baylor won national championships in women’s and men’s basketball in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Baylor football also won the Big 12 championship in 2021.
In 2022, Rhoades agreed to a 10-year contract extension with Baylor.
In the school president’s statement, it was confirmed Baylor’s Deputy AD and COO Jovan Overshown and Executive Senior Associate AD and CFO Cody Hall will continue in their current roles as co-interim ADs for the school.
“I am certain that we will find a new AD who shares in this competitive commitment, aligns with and supports Baylor’s Christian mission and can lead us into this next era of intercollegiate athletics,” Livingstone wrote.
More to come on this story.
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