 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.