Baylor announces lengthy contract extension with Dave Aranda

The Baylor Bears and head coach Dave Aranda have agreed on a contract extension, the school announced on Tuesday. He will now be in Waco for another eight years, with the deal running through the 2029 season.

Aranda took over the program after Matt Rhule took the job with the Carolina Panthers. In his first season, it was a rough outing during the COVID-19 year, finishing with a 2-7 record. However, Aranda was able to turn it around in a big way in 2021, winning the Big 12 championship with a 12-2 overall record. It was the first conference title for the Bears since splitting one with TCU in 2013. Aranda was also able to win the Sugar Bowl for the first time in Baylor history.

Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades released a statement about the football coach committing to the future in Waco. He complimented Aranda, calling him one of the “brilliant minds” in college football alongside stating how excited he is for the head coach to remain with Baylor.

“I am incredibly grateful for Dave’s outstanding leadership of our football program and student-athletes through his commitment to Preparing Champions for Life,” Rhoades said. “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.”

Aranda himself was the next one to comment on committing to running the Bears’ program. He said he and his family love to call Waco come and are excited for the upcoming years.

“My family and I are truly appreciative of the tremendous support we have received from Mack, President Livingstone, and the entire Waco community,” Aranda said. “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.”

Baylor hired Aranda before the 2020 season, pulling him away from LSU where he was the defensive coordinator. Aranda was part of the special 2019 national championship team and led one of the best defenses in the country that season. The Bears are his first head coaching job after also being the defensive coordinator at Hawaii, Utah State, and Wisconsin.