Baylor Football

A Letter from Baylor President Livingstone on the Leadership of the Football Program

Baylor released the following letter from Baylor President Dr. Linda A Livingstone regarding the leadership of its football program.
By SicEm365 Staff
November 21, 2025
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79 Comments
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Photo by Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Baylor released the following letter from Baylor President Dr. Linda A Livingstone regarding the leadership of its football program. 

Dear Baylor Family,

Over the past several weeks, Baylor University has undertaken a comprehensive review of our athletics leadership and the future of our football program. This process has been marked by prayerful consideration, candid conversations and a deep commitment to our Christian mission and values.

After careful evaluation and consideration, we have decided to retain Coach Dave Aranda as the leader of our football program. We recognize this decision will generate strong opinions. Let me be clear: Baylor expects excellence, accountability and competitiveness at the highest level. We are not complacent, and we are not settling for mediocrity.

This decision reflects several critical factors:

Stability during transition: Our next Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics must have the opportunity to assess the football program and chart its long-term direction;

Student-athlete experience: Retaining our current roster and protecting a nationally ranked recruiting class are essential to our future success; and

Financial stewardship: In an era of extreme volatility in college athletics with NIL, the transfer portal, revenue-sharing, and much more, this approach allows us to invest wisely in the program’s future rather than incur significant buyout costs during an unprecedented turnover of coaches across the country.

We acknowledge the frustrations many of you feel, and we share in them. Baylor Football has experienced both historic highs and challenging seasons under Coach Aranda. While we celebrate the Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl victory in 2021, we know this season has not met our shared expectations.

Please know that our team respects and loves playing for Coach Aranda. I can also attest he aligns with Baylor’s Christian mission and is an incredible ambassador for our University.

Our strength as a university has always come from our ability to stand together — students, alumni, faculty and staff, and fans — united by faith and shared purpose. While opinions may differ, our commitment to supporting our student-athletes and representing Baylor with integrity must remain unwavering. Let us rally behind our team, encourage one another and demonstrate the unity that makes Baylor special.

Your support — emotional, spiritual and financial — matters tremendously. Our student-athletes deserve a program that makes you proud, and we remain committed to building a team that competes for championships and reflects Baylor’s values.

Our search for a new Athletics Director is underway, and I am confident we will welcome a new leader who will usher in a new era of competitive success and embrace our fans in new and exciting ways. Thank you for standing with us through both the challenges and the celebrations. 

Sic ’Em,
 

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President, Baylor University

79 Comments
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coaching search Dave Aranda Linda Livingstone Football Baylor 2025
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Discussion from...

A Letter from Baylor President Livingstone on the Leadership of the Football Program

13,615 Views | 79 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by canoso
IowaBear
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11:18a, 11/21/25
Bring out the tarps Linda. You're going to need them. What a ****ing joke.
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Ipswich
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11:21a, 11/21/25
So unserious about football.
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canoso
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11:26a, 11/21/25
I quote from this communication: "...we know this season has not met our shared expectations."

While true, this statement is not the issue, no matter how much Baylor leadership tries to convince the football fanbase that it is. It trivializes the issue. The real issue is Baylor football's trajectory, not one season in isolation.
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ztsmith423
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11:33a, 11/21/25
How many ADs do you automatically disqualify yourself from for making this announcement right now? I wouldn't be thrilled about taking a job where I don't have a say in my coach.
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Booboo Bear
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11:37a, 11/21/25
nvm
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SIC EM 94
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11:39a, 11/21/25
Typical Baylor sh*t show!
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Stefano DiMera
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In reply to ztsmith423 • 11:42a, 11/21/25
This post doesn't make sense.

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Bandito
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11:42a, 11/21/25
How about a Lady Livingstone inspired banner flyover.

Time to ratchet up the pressure.
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Mitch Blood Green
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11:43a, 11/21/25
It's the right choice.

My opinion on Dave changed last week. That was an abysmal performance. Still, gotta get AD done, first.
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IowaBear
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In reply to Stefano DiMera • 11:47a, 11/21/25
Sure it does. He's simply stating that announcing Dave is coming bad likely makes the AD pool of candidates smaller. Most ADs want their guy from day 1. The new AD is basically being told dip**** Dave is your guy, deal with it.
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Dia del DougO
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11:47a, 11/21/25
Timing is very strange, even the need for such a message at all.

I get the feeling they may not have had the interest they had hoped, behind the scenes, with potential new AD hires. Of course, that may be completely wrong. But it seems they aren't feeling like the new AD hire is going to happen very soon.

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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BellCountyBear
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11:54a, 11/21/25
What an empty 2026 season it will be!
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gbfell
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11:56a, 11/21/25
There is certainly ample room for disagreement here. Regardless, her letter was well-reasoned and laid out undeniable factors pointing toward retaining him for another year. I think it's an advantage for the new AD not to be rushed into making a knee-jerk hire because of the pressure to do so immediately due to the portal window. The money involved in a buyout, retaining players and the incoming class who clearly love Aranda, and Aranda's cultural fit with Baylor are all strong reasons to give him and the new AD one more year.

That being said, I doubt there will be any more rope for unmet expectations, nor should there be. There will be no coach in the nation in a hotter seat than Aranda going into the season next year.

As President Livonstone said, he is a tremendous ambassador of the values that Baylor stands for. I will be keeping my season tickets and praying for renewed success.
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BluesBear
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12:00p, 11/21/25
If I'm Dave - I'm embarrassed. He should resign.

Linda - that's a narcissistic letter / statement. The fact you actually believe this is the only option proves you have ZERO ability.

Here's an idea Baylor Board - split the school leadership up. Let Linda run the educational part and hire someone to run the other parts. Clearly this isn't working. Linda has 4 years of real world business experience - need someone who understands the economics of athletics, impact of marketing, etc.
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BluesBear
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In reply to gbfell • 12:01p, 11/21/25
gbfell said:
There is certainly ample room for disagreement here. Regardless, her letter was well-reasoned and laid out undeniable factors pointing toward retaining him for another year. I think it's an advantage for the new AD not to be rushed into making a knee-jerk hire because of the pressure to do so immediately due to the portal window. The money involved in a buyout, retaining players and the incoming class who clearly love Aranda, and Aranda's cultural fit with Baylor are all strong reasons to give him and the new AD one more year.

That being said, I doubt there will be any more rope for unmet expectations, nor should there be. There will be no coach in the nation in a hotter seat than Aranda going into the season next year.

As President Livonstone said, he is a tremendous ambassador of the values that Baylor stands for. I will be keeping my season tickets and praying for renewed success.



Then cut his salary. $4m a year ?????
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jdkingbear
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12:24p, 11/21/25
I graduated from Baylor in 1967. Yes, I know ... I am old (80) and some of you will think of me as woefully deficient in "today's" way of apprizing anything ... especially sports. Hey, have at it. However, the years have taught me many things, and one of them is ... prognosticators are a dime a dozen and most are 50/50 bettors at best.

Baylor has been through a lot of transitions in sports. I remember, and not too fondly, the good and bad years of BU football. Same with basketball. I recall the old BU stadium and watching bball at the HOT coliseum (what a tragedy that place was), and Baylor ball park back then - a joke. There was no soccer (now in the Sweet 16 this year), and women's basketball was unheard of. etc, etc, etc. I have watched it all, and still I am the most rabid Baylor fan I know- just ask my wife, my son, my friends. They all know my penchant for all things BU. So, I don't need to be told that Baylor Football for 2025 has not met anyone's expectations, min included.

Don't know the particulars about the AD sent packing, nor am I privy to the Administration's decision to retain Dave Aranda, and, btw, neither are any of you. I am 80. Long in the tooth. Hope to be able to see our basketball teams do well and challenge for the Big 12 title and go far in March Madness. Hope that our Bears will be bowl eligible and do well over the next couple of weeks so they can go bowling. Want to see Couch Melkey's ladies bring home another national championship in acrobatics. Hell, I hope to make it to next fall and watch the Bears suit up in 2026. Who knows what will happen? One thing I am sure of, though, is that the powers that be are making decisions for the best of our alma mater ... as a world class source of collegiate education (and R1 is nothing to scoff at, prognosticators) and athletic prominence. We are not Ohio State, or Georgia, or Notre Dame, or A&M (though each of those programs have had lots of down years (check it out) ... for them. You can do what you will ... but I will be rooting for the Bears as long as God gives me breath, even when they exasperate the hell out of me ... from time to time. Why? Because I spent 4 of the finest years of my life there. Those years helped shape who I am today, and who I am today .. is still a man who is proud to yell .. SIC'EM BEARS!
jdkingbear
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HuttoBear
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12:28p, 11/21/25
This is bull ****- We have put up with this crap long enough.Season ticket holders just might be the key to make a change
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HuttoBear
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In reply to BellCountyBear • 12:30p, 11/21/25
That's what it will take
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blackie
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In reply to BluesBear • 12:35p, 11/21/25
BluesBear said:
If I'm Dave - I'm embarrassed. He should resign.

Linda - that's a narcissistic letter / statement. The fact you actually believe this is the only option proves you have ZERO ability.

Here's an idea Baylor Board - split the school leadership up. Let Linda run the educational part and hire someone to run the other parts. Clearly this isn't working. Linda has 4 years of real world business experience - need someone who understands the economics of athletics, impact of marketing, etc.

You already operationally have a split. The latter of what you described is the function of an athletic director....which we don't have right now and hence the need for one that can be allowed to do their job.
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Golden Helmet
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12:37p, 11/21/25
We have managed to come full circle. Now, we have a resurrected Tom Stanton running our football program.

I guess that means we'll promote from within for athletic Director. Nobody worth a damn would take that job from the outside when they can't pick a new coach over the one who is clearly failing.
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gbfell
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In reply to jdkingbear • 12:44p, 11/21/25
jdkingbear said:
I graduated from Baylor in 1967. Yes, I know ... I am old (80) and some of you will think of me as woefully deficient in "today's" way of apprizing anything ... especially sports. Hey, have at it. However, the years have taught me many things, and one of them is ... prognosticators are a dime a dozen and most are 50/50 bettors at best.

Baylor has been through a lot of transitions in sports. I remember, and not too fondly, the good and bad years of BU football. Same with basketball. I recall the old BU stadium and watching bball at the HOT coliseum (what a tragedy that place was), and Baylor ball park back then - a joke. There was no soccer (now in the Sweet 16 this year), and women's basketball was unheard of. etc, etc, etc. I have watched it all, and still I am the most rabid Baylor fan I know- just ask my wife, my son, my friends. They all know my penchant for all things BU. So, I don't need to be told that Baylor Football for 2025 has not met anyone's expectations, min included.

Don't know the particulars about the AD sent packing, nor am I privy to the Administration's decision to retain Dave Aranda, and, btw, neither are any of you. I am 80. Long in the tooth. Hope to be able to see our basketball teams do well and challenge for the Big 12 title and go far in March Madness. Hope that our Bears will be bowl eligible and do well over the next couple of weeks so they can go bowling. Want to see Couch Melkey's ladies bring home another national championship in acrobatics. Hell, I hope to make it to next fall and watch the Bears suit up in 2026. Who knows what will happen? One thing I am sure of, though, is that the powers that be are making decisions for the best of our alma mater ... as a world class source of collegiate education (and R1 is nothing to scoff at, prognosticators) and athletic prominence. We are not Ohio State, or Georgia, or Notre Dame, or A&M (though each of those programs have had lots of down years (check it out) ... for them. You can do what you will ... but I will be rooting for the Bears as long as God gives me breath, even when they exasperate the hell out of me ... from time to time. Why? Because I spent 4 of the finest years of my life there. Those years helped shape who I am today, and who I am today .. is still a man who is proud to yell .. SIC'EM BEARS!


Amen, brother!
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Dia del DougO
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12:50p, 11/21/25

I ain't buy no ticket to watch school!

LOL
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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chorne68
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12:51p, 11/21/25
I can understand the decision. He is not a good coach, and I feel that he never will be. I feel that with the AD gone and issues that come from that, it is probably the correct decision. He has a great recruiting class coming in next year that would probably disappear if the change was made. I think it may be the best class ever. I can wait another year to see what happens. Now I will take the darts.
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Reverend
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12:52p, 11/21/25
Linda's message is the most tone deaf BS I have ever read. She will oversee the greatest rebellion of alumni support in Baylor's history. It may lead to her downfall. I hope it does.
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IowaBear
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In reply to chorne68 • 12:54p, 11/21/25
Not going to throw darts. But what good is a recruiting class if the HC can't develop for ***** Dave has zero ability to develop players. Hell a good chunk get significantly worse over time under his coaching. Recruiting classes mean nothing without a coach who's going to further develop players. Dave fails miserably at that. Just as he fails at pretty much every other aspect of actual coaching
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goldenfoot24
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1:19p, 11/21/25
This is utter tomfoolery; all this did is handicap our AD search, verify what several folks have said here for years (Baylor doesn't want to pay Aranda's buyout) and that Livingstone is woefully tone-deaf to what we need to do as an athletic program.

You don't think everyone in the recruiting class is being recruited by other schools using this against Baylor? Ok, Aranda is back for next season..do you really think he's your head coach in a year?

This is another example of why folks can rationally think Baylor is an unserious place led by incompetent leadership. There is no defense for bringing back Aranda; the recruiting class would see upheaval regardless of when Aranda is let go, the buyout can be negotiated unless Rhoades shafted us and you cannot continue to talk about taking football seriously when you make braindead decisions like this one.

At this point, it's clear the only way leadership at Baylor will genuinely take what we have to say to heart is an empty McLane and significantly lower donations. What is the point of driving down to Waco or flying to watch a rudderless program led by a robot who can't motivate or develop players?
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marigold23
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In reply to ztsmith423 • 1:36p, 11/21/25
That's not what the statement does. It actually gives the new AD permission to fire & hire whomever he pleases. I think everyone is underestimating the level of competition there is for quality HCs rn and how difficult it would be to navigate everything that comes with firing your HC without an AD. This is a direct consequence of Mack Rhoades.
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Shakesbear
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1:44p, 11/21/25
At a bare minimum, CDA needs fire his current defensive coordinator and find one that actually knows how to coach a college defense well!



This is the kind of passion I'm talking about
Retreat Hell! We just got here! The 2/5
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Karab
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In reply to Shakesbear • 1:50p, 11/21/25
Shakesbear said:
At a bare minimum, CDA needs fire his current defensive coordinator and find one that actually knows how to coach a college defense well!



This is the kind of passion I'm talking about


Yes. Please, for the love of all things, finally get rid of Powledge.
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PaperBear89
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In reply to Ipswich • 1:54p, 11/21/25
Ipswich said:
So unserious about football.


Ipswich, judging by your handle, you are well aware what happens when "football" is not taken seriously :-) Sorry. Couldn't resist.
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Jpb
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2:02p, 11/21/25
The decision has been made! I will be renewing my season tickets and will be present in the stands. My support is not based on whether or not I think the right decision was made. I naively hope that we can spend at least some of our time on this site absent a steady diet of profanity and "I told you so and I was right"
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Old bear92
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2:05p, 11/21/25
Trying to look at this positively (which is difficult): Dave has been complacent since his extension and I think it's because he knew Mack would never fire him. Hopefully the new AD says look Dave you've got this one year to prove you deserve a job or we will Mike Gundy your A** before conference play starts.
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Johnny Bear
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2:17p, 11/21/25
I think the general translation of her message is:

(1) We presently don't have nor can we find a way to put together the buyout $$ to unload CDA this year and offer the kind of contract we're going to have to offer to coach next, so suck it up fans - you're going to have to endure another season of this crap in 2026.

(2) Barring a miraculous over achieving season next year, whomever AD next is will pick his guy who will be in place for the 2027 season.
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Bearwhiz
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In reply to Shakesbear • 2:20p, 11/21/25
Shakesbear said:
At a bare minimum, CDA needs fire his current defensive coordinator and find one that actually knows how to coach a college defense well!



This is the kind of passion I'm talking about
He has done that 3 times now. Who is going to take a DC job for 1 year
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Booboo Bear
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2:39p, 11/21/25
Honest question: does the statement state that CDA is here for the next season? It just says we are retaining CDA, not for how long.

Is it possible, then, that we hire an AD in December and that the new AD then fires CDA in January? I don't see anything in the statement that would preclude this.
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