Dave Aranda replacements: Ranking Baylor's best candidates, from Jason Eck to Jeff Traylor

Dave Aranda replacements: Ranking Baylor's best candidates, from Jason Eck to Jeff Traylor originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Baylor finds itself at a crossroads partway through the 2026 season.

The Bears announced their decision to dismiss head coach Dave Aranda on Sunday, spelling an end to a seven-year partnership between the program and tactician.

"While this is a difficult moment, we believe a change in leadership is necessary at this time for our program," athletic director Doug McNamee said in a statement. "We will forever be thankful to Dave and his family for their time here at Baylor, and we wish them well."

Aranda, 50, went 40-40 during his time in Waco. His first few years proved promising, especially after he lifted Baylor to a 12-2 record in 2021. Things stalled as his time with the program wore on — the Bears failed to qualify for a bowl game in two of Aranda's final three seasons.

With that, here's a look at some coaches that the Bears could attempt to poach following Aranda's exit.

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Baylor coaching candidates

Jason Eck, New Mexico head coach

Eck, 49, is one of the top candidates in this year's coaching cycle, having led New Mexico to a 9-4 record in his first year in charge in 2025. The Wisconsin native headlines a list of budding head-coaching talents seemingly destined for Power 4 jobs in the coming few seasons. His success with the Lobos (and Idaho before them) suggests that he might have the stuff to make a mark on an outfit with greater resources.

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Glenn Thomas, Nebraska co-offensive coordinator

An Eastland, Texas native, Thomas has some history with the Bears, having served as an offensive coordinator on Matt Rhule's staff from 2017-19. Thomas followed Rhule to Lincoln, helping bring the program back into relevancy after a dour spell under Scott Frost. The Cornhuskers' attack has proven to be fairly high-octane under Thomas' spell, averaging upwards of 29 points per game over the past two years. That might be enough to coax Baylor brass to attempt to bring its protege back into its ranks.

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Slade Nagle, Houston offensive coordinator

Perhaps the Bears will turn their attention to an impressive offensive mind gaining traction at a rival program. Nagle, 46, has spearheaded the Cougars' wondrous offense as of late, authoring game scripts that propel Houston to craft crooked scorelines. Willie Fritz's side is averaging 36 points per game in 2026. Nagle has been one of the primary reasons why, crafting a system that prioritizes balance and depth in the margins.

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Shiel Wood, Texas Tech defensive coordinator

Under Wood's tutelage, the Red Raiders have emerged as one of the nation's stoutest defenses, conceding a little more than 11 points per game during Texas Tech's run to the College Football Playoff in 2025. A South Carolina native who previously served on Houston's staff, Woods' teams have tended to shut the door on opponents in recent years. That could prove appealing to Baylor and its donors.

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Jeff Traylor, UTSA head coach

The Roadrunners have enjoyed ample success under Traylor's stewardship, climbing into the top-25 on multiple occasions. Traylor, 58, is no spring chicken, especially compared with some of his counterparts. But his 58-27 record is glistening. He's been flirting with landing a bigger job for some time. Perhaps he'll finally get his chance to make the leap in 2026.

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