Former Baylor head coach Dave Aranda has broken his silence following his dismissal, expressing gratitude to the players, coaches, staff and community who supported him throughout his seven seasons in Waco in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

“Thank you for the opportunity to lead Baylor Football for the last seven years – it’s been a tremendous honor. Dione and I remain very grateful for the many meaningful relationships forged in Waco. You embraced our family and provided a supportive community to raise our kids.

“I’m so appreciative of every player who touched our program, you guys mean the world to me and I’m proud of the many accomplishments we achieved together. You impacted me more than you know and I hope beyond all hope that feeling is mutual.

“Likewise, to our coaches, football staff and families, thank you for making the countless sacrifices that come with the job. You were a critical part of all our success together and I’m grateful to each of you.

“The game changed tremendously during my time at Baylor – some of which we were prepared for and others requiring growth on all fronts. At the end of the day, our results on the field didn’t meet expectations and I understand that part of the business. I trust you all know it was not for lack of passion or effort. Through it all, we changed lives and furthered men – doing it the Baylor way. No apologies, no regrets, simply gratitude.

“God Bless. – Dave Aranda”

The Bears fired Aranda following a 25-24 loss to Kansas on Sunday. The defeat extended Baylor's losing streak to two games after a 17-6 setback against TCU.

Aranda concluded his Bears tenure with a .500 record of 40-40. His most successful campaign came in 2021, when Baylor finished 12-2, won the Big 12 championship and defeated Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. The Bears also finished No. 5 in the final AP Poll that season.

However, maintaining that standard proved difficult. Following a 2-7 record during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Baylor managed just one additional winning campaign after their championship season, finishing 8-5 in 2024. The Bears went 5-7 in 2025 before opening the current season with inconsistent results.

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Athletic director Doug McNamee ultimately made the decision to move on from Aranda. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who joined Baylor from Kansas State ahead of this season, has been appointed interim head coach.

The Bears enter the remainder of their schedule at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Big 12 play. Klanderman will lead the team through its remaining games, including Friday night's matchup versus UCF. Baylor also has challenging conference assignments against BYU, Texas Tech and Houston still ahead.

Meanwhile, the Bears have begun searching for Aranda's permanent replacement, with the athletic department hoping to identify their next head coach by the end of the regular season.