*Sign Up for 7 days of SicEm365 Premium for $1 to Keep Track of Baylor’s AD Hiring Process*
Mack Rhoades has officially stepped down as Baylor’s athletic director, SicEm365 has confirmed. ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news.
Rhoades was the center of national headlines following an alleged verbal and physical altercation with star tight end Michael Trigg on Sept. 20, when the Bears faced Arizona State.
Rhoades was cleared of wrongdoing by the school, but less than a week after the Trigg story broke, Rhoades missed a dinner with prominent donors and took a self-initiated leave of absence, effective Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The leave, however, was not connected to any Title IX matters, problems within the football program or NCAA rules issues; it was due to personal reasons. Rhoades also had to step down as the chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Rhoades took over in July 2016, and across his 10 years in Waco, Baylor has won 24 Big 12 titles and 10 national championships. Since 2011, Baylor has led the country in combined wins among football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.
Baylor will be searching for a new athletic director for the first time since 2016 — a pivotal moment for the athletic department and university. It also comes at a time when the new athletic director will likely have to coordinate a coaching search, as it’s expected that football head coach Dave Aranda will not stick around for a seventh season.
The current co-interim athletic directors are Jovan Overshown and Cody Hall.
Stefano DiMera said:
I'm not concerned.
Unless you're one of those traumatized because some statues got moved.
She's turned Baylor into a Tier 1 institution which is something a lot of our peers can't even snif.
blackie said:bear2be2 said:Bearsalwayswin said:
didn't know that, im sure it wouldn't hurt to alleviate some stress off him moving up a level….would be a cool pairing too
I just can't see Morris having any interest in giving that up or Spavital having any interest in being a figurehead OC.
If you hire Morris, a big part of the reason is his ability to evaluate and develop quarterbacks and then call offensive plays on Saturday. Spavital would just be a redundant piece.
I realize that people want the video game offense, but for me, I am tired of being in the position as we were even with Art to score 63 points in a game and we still lose. Defense has GOT to be a big part of it. If the other team can't score you can win.
Space Cutter said:
With this news of Rhodes being gone we should all be VERY CONCERNED about who or what Lady Livingstone will try to hire. Her leadership record is not so good. But as far as replacing Aranda, let's don't rush out and grab the shiny new coach. We did that before and got a bon a fide defensive genius as our HC. That's worked out really well.
New HC needs Texas hs coaches background, innovation on the offensive side & is a motivator. Hungry to win and a real strategy to win.
Aliceinbubbleland said:
Going to be hard to find candidates who fit the mission. Where is that statement? I wish Mack nothing but the best is his life moving forward. He was very well compensated and hopefully he spends wisely.
whitetrash said:Aliceinbubbleland said:
Going to be hard to find candidates who fit the mission. Where is that statement? I wish Mack nothing but the best is his life moving forward. He was very well compensated and hopefully he spends wisely.
Here it is, from later in LL's email:
"I am certain we will find an AD who shares in this competitive commitment, aligns with and supports Baylor's Christian mission and can lead us into this next era of intercollegiate athletics"
Jacques Strap said:whitetrash said:Aliceinbubbleland said:
Going to be hard to find candidates who fit the mission. Where is that statement? I wish Mack nothing but the best is his life moving forward. He was very well compensated and hopefully he spends wisely.
Here it is, from later in LL's email:
"I am certain we will find an AD who shares in this competitive commitment, aligns with and supports Baylor's Christian mission and can lead us into this next era of intercollegiate athletics"
I hope this presents an opportunity to bring BMDs back into the decision-making process. Allowing them to participate and have a say in who the next AD and coach will be is the way forward. Hopefully bridges burned can be repaired.
It's not the X's and O's, it's the Jimmys and Joes. To compete you need players and to get players you need money.
Let's hope backchannel communication with the moneybag guys is in play.
BluesBear said:
How the heck was he cleared of wrong doing grabbing a player and cussing them out.
And he missed the donor meeting because 2 Mini's had a 2-1 drink special.
Aliceinbubbleland said:Jacques Strap said:whitetrash said:Aliceinbubbleland said:
Going to be hard to find candidates who fit the mission. Where is that statement? I wish Mack nothing but the best is his life moving forward. He was very well compensated and hopefully he spends wisely.
Here it is, from later in LL's email:
"I am certain we will find an AD who shares in this competitive commitment, aligns with and supports Baylor's Christian mission and can lead us into this next era of intercollegiate athletics"
I hope this presents an opportunity to bring BMDs back into the decision-making process. Allowing them to participate and have a say in who the next AD and coach will be is the way forward. Hopefully bridges burned can be repaired.
It's not the X's and O's, it's the Jimmys and Joes. To compete you need players and to get players you need money.
Let's hope backchannel communication with the moneybag guys is in play.
You better hope they meet the school's mission.
GStefano DiMera said:Quote:
I keep a little bit of an eye on Waco….(my wife grew up there and she Graduated from Baylor)
Morris'sg offense is about the closest thing I've seen to what Art Briles did offensively at Baylor. It's an air raid with a twist. And that twist is going more vertical in the passing game and running the ball while still going at a break neck speed. It's so freaking hard to defend. It's Briles offense to a "T"
So obviously. Baylor would love to get back to that….and without all the other stuff.
Morris checks all the boxes.
I have zero inside knowledge but I would bet behind the scenes, they have their eye on one guy.
ood sMean Green perspective
https://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/topic/171923-waco/
SIC EM 94 said:
Why was he allowed to "resign"? Baylor too chicken sh*t to actually fire him?
A letter from Baylor AD Mack Rhoades:
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) November 20, 2025
The past nine years serving as the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Baylor University have been among the greatest joys of my professional life. However, I find myself in a season of life where I need to prioritize my faith…
BellCountyBear said:
I called it two days ago.
ImABearToo said:
Prioritize my faith? Can't do that at Baylor? "Houston we got a problem!"
Linda Livingstone statement on Mack Rhoades departure: pic.twitter.com/WskPfOCFGb
— Craig Smoak (@CraigSmoak) November 20, 2025
JudgeBear1845 said:
"has informed me of his decision to step away from his position at Baylor"
this bothers me more than it should...
Aliceinbubbleland said:
Class statement
