Baylor Parts Ways With Coach Dave Aranda After Seven Seasons

Baylor Dismisses Head Football Coach dave aranda

Baylor has officially parted ways with head football coach dave aranda following seven seasons with the program. The decision comes on the heels of back-to-back losses to Kansas and TCU, marking the end of a tenure defined by both historic highs and recent struggles.

Looking Back at the dave aranda Era

During his seven years in charge, the California native accumulated a 40-40 record. The absolute peak of his time in Waco occurred in 2021, when the team achieved what is widely considered the best campaign in program history. That year featured 12 victories, a Big 12 Championship title, and a Sugar Bowl triumph against No. 8 Ole Miss.

However, maintaining that level of performance proved challenging. Following the championship season, the team went 6-7 in 2022 and slipped to 3-9 in 2023. A brief rebound in 2024 saw the squad finish 8-5 with a six-game winning streak led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. Unfortunately, that momentum evaporated during a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2025, which ultimately carried over into the difficulties of 2026.

Recent Losses and Roster Struggles

The final stretch of the dave aranda era featured consecutive setbacks against opponents that had previously struggled to defeat Power Four competition. A 17-6 defeat against TCU at McLane Stadium saw the team fail to score a touchdown. That performance followed a narrow 25-24 defeat to Kansas, where a potential game-winning field goal was blocked in the final minute, handing Baylor its first loss to the Jayhawks since 2007.

Statistical metrics further underscored the team's downward trend. Since the beginning of the 2022 schedule, the program posted a 7-15 record against Power Four opponents at home and remained winless at 0-7 against ranked teams. Additionally, his overall record against TCU finished at 1-6, alongside a combined mark of 5-10 against TCU, Texas Tech, and Houston.

Next Steps for Baylor Football Leadership

Athletic director Doug McNamee, who arrived roughly ten months prior to the leadership change, will now direct the search for the next permanent head coach. In the interim, defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will step in to lead the team through the remainder of the transition.

Sources: SicEm365, ESPN, BaylorBears.com, USA Today.