Shamed coach Dave Bliss, whose career and reputation collapsed in the Baylor basketball scandal 12 years ago, has been hired to coach men’s basketball at Southwestern Christian University, an NAIA school in Bethany, Oklahoma.
Bliss, 71, who coached 525 victories at OU, SMU, New Mexico and Baylor in a 28-year head coaching career, resigned from Baylor in 2003.
Bliss admitted to making improper tuition payments for Baylor players Patrick Dennehy and Corey Herring, and after Dennehy was murdered by Baylor teammate Carlton Dotson, Bliss attempted to provide cover for his rule-breaking by helping portray Dennehy as a drug dealer.
Bliss’ book, “Fall to Grace,” is scheduled to be released later this month, in which he details his descent into scandal and his journey to forgiveness.
“I don’t think for a minute any of you would do something as foolish as what I did,” Bliss writes, “but you need to understand something: I didn’t think I would, either. My obedience to what God can do with my story is truly what drives me nowadays. Although there are parts of my story that I am not proud of, I am grateful for God’s faithfulness.”
Southwestern Christian athletic consultant Jim Poteet, who coached at then-Bethany Nazarene College when Bliss coached at OU 1975-80, said SCU officials believe in redemption and believe Bliss has been transformed.
Southwestern president Reggies Wenyika said, “Coach Bliss fits well within our mission and culture and embraces what a Christian-based education is all about.”
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SOURCE: Berry Tramel
NewsOK.com
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