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

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…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/