Ed Orgeron evaluates what Dave Aranda must do at Baylor

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda just wrapped up his sixth season with the program, leading the Bears to a 5-7 (3-6) record. His tenure in Waco has been a rollercoaster to put it lightly, as he’s made three bowl game appearances while missing three different postseasons.

It appeared as if Aranda would be taking the program to the next level, as Baylor recorded a 12-2 record with a win in the Sugar Bowl and a No. 5 finish in the final AP Poll Rankings in 2021. Since that dream season, however, the Bears are just 22-28 across four seasons with one season over .500.

Ed Orgeron says Dave Aranda needs ‘great players and great coaches’

This disappointing span has led many to believe that Aranda is no longer the right man to lead the program into the future. National Championship-winning head coach Ed Orgeron, who Aranda coached under at LSU from 2016-2019, evaluated what his former defensive coordinator needed to do to get things back on track.

“First of all, I’m a big fan of Dave’s,” Orgeron said on the Dec. 9 episode of ‘Bussin’ With The Boys‘. “He was a great coach for me, and he gave a lot to LSU. I do believe, just like me now (no difference), he’s a better defensive mind than I am and a lot more cerebral than I am. I doubt he only made a 10 on his ACT, know what I’m saying? But, just like myself, I had to get great players and great coaches.

“I don’t think he’s hit that mark yet on an overall basis. He might have had it in spots here and there, but I think in order for Dave to be a great head coach, he has to be surrounded by great assistants and great players. Whether or not he can do it next year, I surely hope so. He’s a great person.”

Dave Aranda will be returning to Baylor for seventh season in 2026

The university announced on Nov. 21 that Aranda would be returning as head football coach for the 2026 season, ending weeks of speculation about his future amid program uncertainty and administrative turnover. The upcoming season will mark his seventh in Waco, which would make him the second-longest-tenured Baylor head coach in 33 seasons (Art Briles coached eight seasons from 2008-2015).

The decision was made public in a detailed statement from Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone. She cited stability, alignment with the university’s mission, and long-term strategic priorities for bringing back the California native.

“After careful evaluation and consideration, we have decided to retain Coach Dave Aranda as the leader of our football program,” Livingstone wrote. “We recognize this decision will generate strong opinions. Let me be clear: Baylor expects excellence, accountability and competitiveness at the highest level. We are not complacent, and we are not settling for mediocrity.”

“Our strength as a university has always come from our ability to stand together — students, alumni, faculty and staff, and fans — united by faith and shared purpose. While opinions may differ, our commitment to supporting our student-athletes and representing Baylor with integrity must remain unwavering. Let us rally behind our team, encourage one another and demonstrate the unity that makes Baylor special.”

Across six seasons, Aranda has led Baylor to a 36-37 (24-30) record. He will likely enter the 2026 season with one of the hottest seats of any head coach in the sport of college football.