Sports
Baylor turns to Joe Klanderman after ending Dave Aranda’s tenure
Baylor dismissed Dave Aranda on Sunday, a day after a one-point loss to Kansas dropped the Bears to 4-3. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman will lead the team on an interim basis for the rest of the season.
Baylor fired football coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, Oct. 25, and named defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman interim coach for the remainder of the season.
The decision came after Baylor’s 25-24 loss to Kansas on Saturday. The defeat left the Bears 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12, while Kansas ended a 14-game losing streak against Baylor that dated to 2007. Blake Herold blocked a Baylor field-goal attempt in the final minute to preserve the Jayhawks’ win.
Aranda, who took over the program in 2020, leaves with a 40-40 record. His high point came in 2021, when Baylor won the Big 12 championship and the Sugar Bowl. The Bears have had just one winning season since.
Baylor had made changes aimed at improving the team, including hiring Klanderman from Kansas State to oversee defensive play-calling and bringing in transfer quarterback DJ Lagway from Florida. Aranda was in his seventh season and faced pressure to turn around the program.
“While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program,” Baylor vice president and athletic director Doug McNamee said. He also described Aranda as a coach who cared deeply about the university, its players and staff.
Klanderman’s first game as interim coach is scheduled for Friday at UCF. The Knights enter the matchup after beating then-No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime on Saturday.