Baylor fires Dave Aranda: Lincoln Riley, Spencer Danielson among candidates to replace 7th-year coach

Aranda led the Bears to the 2021 Big 12 title, but finished with four losing seasons Baylor has fired coach Dave Aranda after seven seasons, the program announced on Sunday. Aranda finished his tenure with a 40-40 record and 26-32 mark in Big 12 play, struggling to get the Bears back to contention in the NIL era. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will serve as interim coach. Aranda, a national championship-winning defensive coordinator at LSU, came to Waco with fanfare and quickly led the Bears to the best season in program history. Baylor captured the 2021 Big 12 title and a Sugar Bowl victory to record the first AP Top 5 finish in program history.

However, Aranda failed to capitalize on the success, finishing with a losing record the next season and falling to 3-9 two years later. Over six full seasons with the program, Baylor finished with four losing records and never recorded consecutive winning seasons. "Anyone who knows Dave Aranda understands what a genuine and honorable person he is and how much he deeply cares for his players, staff and this university," Baylor athletic director Doug McNamee said in a statement. "He is a gifted coach and brilliant football mind whose leadership brought some of our best Baylor football memories. While this is a difficult moment, we believe a