Baylor’s next football coach needs to be more than a clean fit for the moment. He needs to be the right fit for DJ Lagway.
That’s the real pressure point after Dave Aranda’s dismissal on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will steer the Bears for the final five games, and his first season in Waco gives him a legitimate case to stay in the conversation.
He inherited a defense that was second-to-last in the Big 12 in points allowed at 32.6 per game and turned it into Baylor’s best unit since the 2021 conference championship season. The turnaround showed up fast, too, with Baylor holding each of its first six opponents to 20 points or fewer.
Still, Baylor would be wise not to let that success push it toward the familiar answer. Klanderman, like Aranda before him, is a defensive mind without previous head coaching experience.
That kind of hire can work, but Baylor has already lived through that blueprint. The Bears need a different kind of leader this time, one built around offense and quarterback development.
That matters because of who is already on the roster.
Lagway arrived from Florida as a consensus five-star prospect and one of the top recruits in the 2024 class, carrying more hype than any Baylor quarterback since Jarrett Stidham in 2015. His arm strength, mobility and playmaking ability give the program a rare foundation. The problem is that Baylor has not consistently protected that talent with steady line play or a dependable run game, which has kept the offense from fully cashing in on what he can do.
An offensive head coach would not magically fix every issue, but Baylor needs someone who has shown he can develop quarterbacks and build a system that helps Lagway produce against quality defenses. The choice could even shape whether he stays in Waco.
Lagway has another season of eligibility in 2027, but Baylor can’t take that for granted. There’s no indication he plans to transfer, yet the chance to play in an offense that fits his strengths could matter.
That’s why Baylor should look outside the building.
Among the names recently identified by Baylor Bears on SI are Texas State’s G.J. Kinne, New Mexico’s Jason Eck and UTSA’s Jeff Traylor.
Kinne may be the cleanest offensive match for Lagway. A former Tulsa quarterback, he’s built a reputation for high-scoring teams at Incarnate Word and Texas State.
His first three seasons at Texas State produced top-15 scoring offenses nationally, and his background developing quarterbacks, along with his Texas recruiting ties, adds to the appeal. He also already owns a win over Baylor, after Texas State upset the Bears 42-31 in his debut as Bobcats head coach in 2023.
Eck is another name worth watching. He turned Idaho into an FCS playoff contender, then led New Mexico to nine wins in his first season in 2025.
His resume also includes three years as South Dakota State’s offensive coordinator, when the Jackrabbits averaged 37.5 points per game in 2021. That mix of offensive background and program-building experience makes him a serious candidate.
Traylor brings a different kind of résumé. He has deep Texas recruiting ties and guided UTSA to consecutive Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022. He’s not viewed first as an offensive innovator, but his track record of building a program would give Baylor plenty to consider.
Baylor has not hired a permanent offensive-minded head coach since Art Briles in 2008. Since then, Matt Rhule and Aranda came from defensive backgrounds, while Jim Grobe served as interim head coach in 2016. This time, the Bears have a chance to break that pattern.
They shouldn’t make the search about one player alone. But with Lagway in place, his upside gives Baylor a rare opening to build around the most talented quarterback it has had in years. The next coach should be the one best positioned to make the most of that opportunity next season, before Lagway’s time in Waco runs out.
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There is better news on the back end, where defensive back Jordan Crutchfield is expected to be available against Clemson after a season slowed by injuries. For a Florida State defense trying to get healthier at the right time, having one potential contributor closer to game-ready matters even if another remains on the sideline. The Seminoles are still waiting for the full boost they were hoping for, and the timing of that recovery will matter with a tough test ahead. [Read more 🡒]