Bliss Speaks At NCCAA Banquet
Former coach talks about success, failure, redemption
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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During his speech, the 71-year-old former Bob Knight assistant talked briefly about the successes during his head coaching career at Oklahoma, SMU, New Mexico and finally, Baylor.
Bliss’ coaching career came to a tragic end in 2003 when he was forced to resign from Baylor amid school and National Collegiate Athletic Association investigations regarding the murder of Baylor player Patrick Dennehy by teammate Carlton Dotson. It was alleged Bliss made tuition payments to Dennehy and another player, and it was alleged Bliss attempted to cover up the transgression by saying Dennehy was a drug dealer. In 2005 the NCAA essentially banned him from coaching for 10 years.
“(The media coverage) was relentless,” Bliss said. “There were TV trucks on my lawn, You’ve seen all the terrible scenes that happen to other people. And before I scare you; I don’t think anybody in this room would do what I did, but I didn’t think I would, either.
“I was in utter shock for four years. I’d like to say I would have been there more for my family than I was, but it’s unbelieveable when you are so humiliated and disrespected. My cheating was one thing, but the cover up I attempted violated the human trust. We know from C.S. Lewis about the moral code, and I violated the moral code.”
Bliss spoke of how he grew up in a household of faith, “but I was like a Christian streaker; I had on my helmet of salvation and nothing else. I’m running around thinking I’m doing pretty good. The aspect of ‘doing pretty good’ is rampant with a prideful man. Because of the success we had, and we had a lot of success, instead of thinking it was a gift and a blessing, I thought I was special.”
He said he had hoped for a book with a seven-step program to get back the things he lost with his job; the salary, the respect, and the security that came with the job. Instead, he turned to the Bible, and found other examples of people who lost everything important to them, but came back with the help of God.
“The thing I always liked about coaching was helping people,” he said. “My plan changed, but my purpose remains the same.”
Bliss is now the athletic director, dean of students and head boys basketball coach at Allen Academy, a private school in Bryan, Texas, just northwest of College Station.
“When I was away from coaching, I missed being with ‘my guys.’ But I missed the feeling of integrity; of knowing we could trust each other. I’ve come full circle now.
“But you know how drivers on a highway after dark will warn you of something that’s ahead by blinking their lights? Whether it’s deer in the road, or the police hiding up ahead, they’re trying to warn you of a bad situation up ahead.
“I wish I’d have paid better attention to the blinking lights.”[[In-content Ad]]
During his speech, the 71-year-old former Bob Knight assistant talked briefly about the successes during his head coaching career at Oklahoma, SMU, New Mexico and finally, Baylor.
Bliss’ coaching career came to a tragic end in 2003 when he was forced to resign from Baylor amid school and National Collegiate Athletic Association investigations regarding the murder of Baylor player Patrick Dennehy by teammate Carlton Dotson. It was alleged Bliss made tuition payments to Dennehy and another player, and it was alleged Bliss attempted to cover up the transgression by saying Dennehy was a drug dealer. In 2005 the NCAA essentially banned him from coaching for 10 years.
“(The media coverage) was relentless,” Bliss said. “There were TV trucks on my lawn, You’ve seen all the terrible scenes that happen to other people. And before I scare you; I don’t think anybody in this room would do what I did, but I didn’t think I would, either.
“I was in utter shock for four years. I’d like to say I would have been there more for my family than I was, but it’s unbelieveable when you are so humiliated and disrespected. My cheating was one thing, but the cover up I attempted violated the human trust. We know from C.S. Lewis about the moral code, and I violated the moral code.”
Bliss spoke of how he grew up in a household of faith, “but I was like a Christian streaker; I had on my helmet of salvation and nothing else. I’m running around thinking I’m doing pretty good. The aspect of ‘doing pretty good’ is rampant with a prideful man. Because of the success we had, and we had a lot of success, instead of thinking it was a gift and a blessing, I thought I was special.”
He said he had hoped for a book with a seven-step program to get back the things he lost with his job; the salary, the respect, and the security that came with the job. Instead, he turned to the Bible, and found other examples of people who lost everything important to them, but came back with the help of God.
“The thing I always liked about coaching was helping people,” he said. “My plan changed, but my purpose remains the same.”
Bliss is now the athletic director, dean of students and head boys basketball coach at Allen Academy, a private school in Bryan, Texas, just northwest of College Station.
“When I was away from coaching, I missed being with ‘my guys.’ But I missed the feeling of integrity; of knowing we could trust each other. I’ve come full circle now.
“But you know how drivers on a highway after dark will warn you of something that’s ahead by blinking their lights? Whether it’s deer in the road, or the police hiding up ahead, they’re trying to warn you of a bad situation up ahead.
“I wish I’d have paid better attention to the blinking lights.”[[In-content Ad]]
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