After only two seasons at the helm (remember when he was named to the position in 2020?), Baylor head coach Dave Aranda led the football team through the most successful season in program history, was named the Associated Press’ Big 12 Coach of the Year, rightfully earned the 2022 George Munger Coach of the Year award by the Maxwell Football Club, and just inked a contract extension through 2029! Under Aranda’s leadership, the Bears went from 2-7 in 2020-21 to 12-2 in the 2021-22 season. The team secured a program-high 12 wins, recorded their first-ever Big 12 Championship title game victory, had first and only New Years 6 bowl win in the CFP era, and notched 5 wins over Top 25 opponents for their most top-25 wins in a season since at least 1974! Baylor fans have (im)patiently awaited news of Aranda’s contract update/extension since the end of the season on New Year’s Day and although financial details are kept hidden due to Baylor being a private institution, we can all breathe a sigh of relief that we should have Aranda for (hopefully) at least the next 7 years.
Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said in the press release, “I am incredibly grateful for Dave’s outstanding leadership of our football program and student-athletes through his commitment to Preparing Champions for Life. Dave has brought unprecedented success to our football program both on and off the field. He has brought tremendous national exposure and acclaim to our institution and the greater Waco community. We look forward to the future with Dave, his wife, Dione, and their children and the continued growth of our football program, student-athletes, and fan support under his exceptional leadership. Dave is, without question, one of the most brilliant minds in college football across the country.”
In the same release Aranda said, “My family and I are truly appreciative of the tremendous support we have received from Mack, President Livingstone, and the entire Waco community. We are both incredibly grateful and proud to call Baylor our home. I look forward to continuing the work we’ve started on and off the field in the years to come.”
Retaining Aranda during such an unprecedented coaching carousel the past several months was an absolute must for Baylor Athletics and despite Aranda continuously affirming his desire to stay in Waco, the option to leave seemed to always open. With the contract extension giving Aranda the opportunity to stay put through 2029 instead of 2025, the Bears have lots of stability and excitement for years to come!
