Former Utah State Defensive Coordinator Hired As Baylor Bears Head Coach
Jan 16, 2020, 3:09 PM | Updated: 5:43 pm
Dave Aranda of the LSU Tigers attends media day for the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 11, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah State football defensive coordinator Dave Aranda agreed to become the next head coach of the Baylor Bears football program.
Aranda was announced at the Bears head coach on Thursday, January 16. It will be his first time as a college football head coach.
“Today is an exciting day for Baylor,” said Bears athletic director Mack Rhoades in a statement. “Dave is a special person who loves football and his student-athletes, is highly intellectual, and is a great mission fit for both Baylor Athletics and the University at large.”
Aranda, who served as Utah State’s defensive coordinator in 2012, is coming off a national championship victory as LSU’s defensive coordinator.
Reports have surfaced that Aranda is interested in hiring Utah OC Andy Ludwig as Baylor’s new offensive coordinator.
Please welcome new Baylor Football head coach
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— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) January 16, 2020
Aranda left Utah State alongside Gary Andersen in 2012 when Andersen became Wisconsin’s head coach. Andersen named Aranda the Badgers’ defensive coordinator.
Aranda remained Wisconsin’s DC until 2015.
He then moved to Baton Rouge and joined the LSU Tigers’ coaching staff in 2016.
Aranda was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2015 and 2016. The annual honor goes to college football’s top assistant coach.
Under Aranda, the Tigers capped of an undefeated 15-0 season with a win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 13.
Utah State played at LSU in 2019 at fell 42-6 at Death Valley.
One of my favorite moments from postgame was watching Dave Aranda quietly take it all in as the confetti fell. pic.twitter.com/7YB5qDDpFJ
— Cody Worsham (@CodyWorsham) January 16, 2020
LSU finished the 2019 season with the nation’s No. 31 ranked total defense. The Tigers allowed 343.5 yards per game.
Aranda replaces former Bears head coach Matt Rhule who was introduced as the head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers on January 8.
Rhule hired LSU’s co-offensive coordinator Joe Brady as the Carolina’s OC on January 16.
