Last month with the firing of former DC Ron Roberts and Safeties Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Ronnie Wheat, the Baylor Football team hired Matthew Powledge as DC and Christian Robinson for Inside LBs. Powledge returned to Waco following a speedy stint at Oregon as co-DC after he was Baylor’s Safeties Coach/Special Teams Coordinator from 2020-2021. A few weeks later, the Bears’ RB Coach Justin Johnson traded the green and gold for black and red, becoming Texas Tech’s Assistant Head Coach and Passing Game Coordinator. With all of the coaching changes, the Bears recently announced two new staff additions in the form of AJ Steward and Tyler Hancock. To replace Johnson, Steward arrived from Oregon State where he coached for the last two years and helped the Beavers to a 10-3 finish and No. 17 national ranking this past season. Steward previously coached at Arizona (2020), BYU (2018-19) and Rice (2014-17) after playing as a TE at Kansas. On his move to Waco, Steward said, “My family and I are thrilled to be joining the Baylor Family. We are grateful and honored for the opportunity to join Coach Dave Aranda‘s staff and I am excited to work with this great group of student-athletes and coaches!” Aranda added, “AJ is a great addition to our coaching staff, and we are excited to bring him and his wife Virginia to Waco. AJ has quickly developed a reputation as one of the top running back coaches in the nation, and as a tireless and skilled recruiter who has a great feel for the state of Texas. AJ is man of faith who places tremendous value in person over player. I have no doubt he will be a tremendous leader within our program.” Replacing Wheat is Hancock, who coached the Special Teams at Charlotte over the last two years. Hancock has worked on all sides of the ball in his coaching career, working as a senior analyst at West Virginia from 2019-20, special teams’ quality control coach at Maryland in 2016-18, and as a defensive intern and offensive assistant at Kentucky during his time from 2013-16. On Hancock’s addition, Aranda said, “Tyler is a valuable addition to our staff. He has had great success working with special teams units throughout his career and can step in immediately to help lead our group. His versatile experience working with several positional groups is a great asset when it comes to directing a special teams unit. When paired with his experience in the Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference, Tyler is positioned to bring great perceptive to our staff.”
