Overview
- Baylor announced Sunday that it fired Dave Aranda during his seventh season and promoted defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman to serve as interim head coach for the rest of the year.
- The decision came after consecutive defeats, capped by a 25-24 loss at Kansas in which a late Baylor field-goal attempt was blocked.
- Aranda finishes his Baylor tenure 40-40 overall after delivering a program-high 12-2 season, a Big 12 title and a Sugar Bowl win in 2021 but only one winning season since.
- Reports say Aranda’s contract triggers roughly a $12 million buyout tied to an extension through 2029, and media outlets have already floated several potential replacements with strong Texas recruiting ties while details remain unconfirmed.
- Klanderman’s first game as interim is Friday at UCF on a short week, and Baylor’s performance in the remaining five games will determine bowl eligibility and shape the scope and timing of the full-time coaching search.