Dave Bliss returns to college coaching 12 years after Baylor scandal

Dave Bliss is back in college coaching.

Still think that snowball in hell doesn't have a chance?

Bliss was disgraced and resigned from Baylor 12 years ago in one of the ugliest scandals in college basketball history. Yet, he was recently hired to coach at Southwestern Christian University, an NAIA school in the Oklahoma City area. Bliss' return to college coaching was reported Monday by Berry Tramel in the Oklahoman newspaper.

Bliss admitted to NCAA violations in his Baylor program, including making tuition payments for players. When one of those players, Patrick Dennehy, was murdered by a teammate, Carlton Dotson, Bliss was busted trying to portray Dennehy as a drug dealer to cover up his rule breaking.

Assistant coach Abar Rouse recorded a conversation with Bliss that broke the story open and led to Bliss' resignation. Many thought he would never coach again with such a badly tarnished reputation. It hasn't been 12 years in exile for Bliss, who is now 71.

A year after leaving Baylor, he volunteered at a suburban-Denver high school where his son played. Just two years later, Bliss was given the opportunity to coach in the Continental Basketball Association for the Dakota Wizards in Bismarck, N.D.

This isn't Bliss' first foray back into a position to influence and guide young people. He returned to coaching in the high school ranks in Bryan, Texas five years ago at Allen Academy and it didn't take long for him and his private school program to become the subject of controversy. Bliss was also the athletic director and dean of students at the school.

Bliss amassed 525 victories at four schools – Oklahoma, SMU, New Mexico and Baylor – over a 28-year career prior to the scandal that led to his departure from Baylor in 2003.

The Oklahoman also noted the Bliss' has authored a new book "Fall to Grace" which is scheduled to be published later this month.

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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at kyle.ringo@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo