Baylor University Athletics Director Ian McCaw resigned Monday. The announcement comes as the University is reeling in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that’s seen other top officials removed.
“After much reflection and prayer, I have decided that a change in athletics department leadership is in Baylor University’s best interest in order to promote the unity, healing and restoration that must occur in order to move forward,” McCaw said in a statement.
Last week, Baylor head football coach Art Briles was fired and Ken Starr was removed from his role as president but remains chancellor and professor with Baylor Law School.
The changes at Baylor happened shortly after the university released partial findings of Pepper Hamilton, the law firm hired to investigate Baylor's response to sexual assault allegations. The report found the university “failed to prioritize Title IX implementation.” Those efforts were “uncoordinated,” the report found.
“Baylor failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University.”
McCaw’s last role as Athletics Director came hours before his resignation, as he announced former Wake Forest University coach Jim Grobe as interim head coach.
Baylor’s board of regents – who have remained reticent to talk about specifics of their decisions – responded to McCaw’s decision Monday evening.
“We understand and accept this difficult decision by Ian McCaw to resign as Athletic Director and are grateful for his service to Baylor University. We also appreciate Ian’s commitment and involvement in bringing a person of integrity such as Jim Grobe to the University before making this decision.”
McCaw took over as Baylor’s Athletics Director in September of 2003, shortly after a men’s basketball scandal, involving the murder of a player and NCAA violations.