Baylor’s search for its next head coach is officially underway after the school moved on from Dave Aranda on Sunday, ending a seven-year run in Waco.
Athletic director Doug McNamee framed the decision as a necessary one for the program’s future. "While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program," McNamee said in a statement. "We will forever be thankful to Dave and his family for their time here at Baylor, and we wish them well."
Aranda, 50, leaves Baylor with a 40-40 record. The early returns looked promising, especially when he guided the Bears to a 12-2 season in 2021, but the momentum faded as the years went on. Baylor missed a bowl game in two of Aranda’s final three seasons, and that slide pushed the program to make a change partway through the 2026 season.
Now the focus turns to the candidates Baylor could chase.
One name near the top of the board is Jason Eck, the 49-year-old New Mexico coach who has quickly built a strong case for a jump to a Power 4 job. In his first season with the Lobos in 2025, Eck went 9-4, adding to the reputation he built earlier at Idaho. His track record suggests a coach who can maximize what he has, and Baylor will almost certainly notice that kind of rise.
Another possibility is Glenn Thomas, the Nebraska co-offensive coordinator and an Eastland, Texas native with Baylor ties. Thomas previously worked as offensive coordinator on Matt Rhule’s staff from 2017-19 before following Rhule to Lincoln. Nebraska’s offense has been productive under his watch, averaging upwards of 29 points per game over the past two years, which gives him a profile that could appeal to Baylor leadership.
Slade Nagle also belongs in the conversation. The Houston offensive coordinator has helped fuel one of the more explosive attacks around, with the Cougars averaging 36 points per game in 2026. Nagle, 46, has earned attention for an offense that keeps defenses guessing and produces crooked scorelines.
On the other side of the ball, Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood has made his case with a defense that has been nasty all year. During the Red Raiders’ run to the College Football Playoff in 2025, Texas Tech gave up a little more than 11 points per game. Wood, a South Carolina native who previously coached at Houston, has overseen units that consistently make life miserable for opponents.
And then there’s Jeff Traylor, the UTSA head coach whose résumé already looks like that of someone ready for a bigger stage. The 58-year-old has gone 58-27 with the Roadrunners and helped push the program into the top 25 more than once. He has been linked to bigger opportunities for a while, and Baylor could be the job that finally draws him upward.
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Utah Just Added To The Pressure On BYU In The Big 12
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Devon Dampier was central to the turnaround, steering the offense through the second half with a mix of passing and running that helped Utah string together the scoring drives it needed. The result keeps the Utes in the conference title conversation, but they are still expected to stay behind BYU in the Big 12 pecking order for now, which only adds to the pressure in a race with very little margin for error. [Read more 🡒]