By Kamryn Anthis | Staff Writer
Baylor Athletics announced Sunday that head coach Dave Aranda was let go from the program, effective immediately. The announcement prompted mixed reactions among students, with some welcoming a leadership change and others expressing sympathy for Aranda.
Students across campus are considering what the decision could mean for the future of Baylor football.
Westlake junior Jack Willbanks said that the program “needed a reset,” though he also acknowledged the personal impact of Aranda’s departure.
“I think it is vital for us Baylor students to take a moment of silence for his family; it is very difficult when you are released from a job with a $1 million salary,” Willbanks said. “We’re happy he’s gone, because we can all agree we needed this.”
Willbanks said he hopes new leadership will bring renewed energy to the program, pointing to the team’s performance against TCU.
“During the TCU game … our guys on the sideline, what was going on there?” he said. “There was no energy, not a single bit of energy. I’m going to go ahead and credit that to Dave Aranda. I look forward to getting somebody in this office who can go ahead and reinvigorate the system.”
Baylor’s defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman stepped in as interim head coach while the university searches for a permanent replacement.
The decision follows a difficult stretch for Baylor football, including a 17-6 loss to TCU at home on Oct. 17. Little Elm sophomore Henry Obele said he hopes the coaching change will lead to better results during his remaining years at Baylor.
“We’re pretty ecstatic,” Obele said. “Baylor never beats TCU, at least since I came here, and hopefully we can actually win games now.”
Frisco sophomore Chris Nemeh also expressed frustration with the team’s performance during his time at Baylor.
“Ever since I got on campus, our football team has been a disaster,” Nemeh said. “I haven’t seen anything good, and I blame it on Dave. I’m glad he’s gone.”
With five regular-season games remaining, students said the program’s challenges may extend beyond its coaching staff. Kingwood junior Brooklyn Cardenas said she hopes the leadership change will help but acknowledged that the team’s performance also depends on its players.
“I think that this is going to be really good, but you also have to consider that you have to have a good team, and it’s not just leadership,” Cardenas said. “But hopefully this will be good for our Baylor football team.”
The decision comes after Baylor’s Saturday loss to Kansas, which marked another setback for the program. Morgan Hill, California, senior Kathryn Huffman said she believes Aranda had to be held accountable for the team’s recent performances.
“There’s no reason why we should’ve lost those two games that badly,” Huffman said. “Someone has to be on the chopping block.”
Other students expressed sympathy for Aranda despite their frustrations with the team’s results. Colleyville freshman Travis Adams says that he shouldn’t have lost his job entirely.
“Honestly, it’s kind of sad,” Adams said. “We did lose two games, including our rival game against TCU, but he’s a guy, and he was doing his best. … He needs a kick, but not a kick out the door.”
Arlington freshman Natalie Pfaff similarly distinguished between her feelings about Aranda as a person and her view of the coaching change.
“From a human standpoint, I feel sad,” Pfaff said. “I think he did a great job being Baylor head coach. From a football standpoint, I think it’ll be a good change. Hopefully we can start looking forward to being a better team.”
Aranda leaves Baylor with a 40-40 record over his seven-year tenure as head coach. Fort Worth senior Matthew Hurd said he believes the change was necessary, but wishes Aranda well.
“I think it was his time to get fired; he seems like a great guy … but it was his time,” Hurd said. “We need to bring a new coach in. We wish him the best and hope that he gets a job somewhere else.”
