Art Briles

A native of Rule, Texas, Briles attended Rule High School, where he was coached by his father. Playing quarterback and earning all-state honors, Briles as a senior in 1973 led Rule to the Texas Class B state championship game, where they lost to Big Sandy, led by David Overstreet and Lovie Smith. Briles accepted a scholarship offer by Bill Yeoman at the University of Houston, where he switched to wide receiver and played three seasons, including the 1977 Cotton Bowl Classic. Briles' parents and aunt died in a car crash on U.S. Route 380 near Newcastle, Texas, while on their way to Dallas to see him play in a game on October 16, 1976. His then-girlfriend and now-wife, the former Jan Allison, had planned to make the trip with his family but decided to stay behind in Rule to attend a friend's bridal shower. After finishing the 1976–77 academic year, Briles left Houston and transferred to Texas Tech, which Jan was attending at the time, to complete his bachelor's degree, which he earned in 1979. He earned a master's degree in education at Abilene Christian University before entering coaching.