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Baylor football coaching search 2026: Candidates, hot board, names to watch from Bears experts

Baylor’s football coaching search has officially begun following the firing of head coach Dave Aranda on October 25, 2026. Aranda, who joined the program in 2020 after stints as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU, led the Bears to a 12-2 record and a Sugar Bowl win in 2021, finishing in the top five of the AP Poll.

However, his tenure declined sharply afterward, as Baylor struggled to a sub-.500 record both overall and in the Big 12 for the remainder of his time. The interim head coach, Jon Klanderman, has since guided the team to a 41-9 victory over UCF in Week 9, marking a brief respite in the program’s recent struggles.

Bears Illustrated, the 247Sports affiliate covering Baylor, has identified potential candidates for the head coaching position. One name drawing attention is UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor, whose tenure at the Roadrunners has been marked by steady improvement.

Since taking over in 2020, Traylor has compiled a 58-27 record, including a 37-12 mark in Conference USA and the AAC/American Conference, signaling a proven track record in rebuilding programs.

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