Livingstone Explains Baylor’s Decision to Retain Aranda Amid AD Transition

Excellent interview. He peeled back the pages gently and she answered professionally. She obviously likes Mack and recognizes the shortcomings in NIL.

ExasperatedBearsFan said:

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She danced around the mediocrity question. I wanted him to ask if it hampers the AD search when you don't let them select their own coach. Talking won't get fans back - only winning will do that. It sounded like big supporters are no happier than regular fans. Recruiting class is already being pillaged! She seems to think she is as good as an AD - please stay in your lane. So much more I could say but basically felt like I was watching a political press conference, with plenty of gaslighting.

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That is exactly what we are doing letting the new AD pick their own coach. It is only on this board that I have seen it advocated that the President pick a new HC then an AD.

PartyBear said:

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ExasperatedBearsFan said:

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She danced around the mediocrity question. I wanted him to ask if it hampers the AD search when you don't let them select their own coach. Talking won't get fans back - only winning will do that. It sounded like big supporters are no happier than regular fans. Recruiting class is already being pillaged! She seems to think she is as good as an AD - please stay in your lane. So much more I could say but basically felt like I was watching a political press conference, with plenty of gaslighting.

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That is exactly what we are doing letting the new AD pick their own coach. It is only on this board that I have seen it advocated that the President pick a new HC then an AD.

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Yeah, when you say the AD will make the decisions on the HC and the program, that also says that AD could fire Aranda on the spot. Has she actually said Aranda has to stay after the AD is hired? Her written statement the other day sure didn't say that.

Now, if she hired a HC now, then the AD would be stuck with them. This situation is screwed-up enough as it is. We don't need to twist words to make it sound worse.

I took it from the interview that if new AD fires Dave on day one she would accept that. I was encouraged that she did reach out to outside sources. It sounds like they have a person or persons lined up to be AD. She also said all donors were not happy. She was careful in choosing her words but did take responsibility for keeping Aranda.

Did you listen to the interview on YouTube? The interviewer made it clear Dave Aranda will coach the team in 2026. I'm not suggesting Linda should hire a coach. I'm suggesting a lot of AD candidates will want their own coach in 2026 and according to Zach Smith that's not happening. Maybe you have other sources that have better information.

ExasperatedBearsFan said:

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Did you listen to the interview on YouTube? The interviewer made it clear Dave Aranda will coach the team in 2026. I'm not suggesting Linda should hire a coach. I'm suggesting a lot of AD candidates will want their own coach in 2026 and according to Zach Smith that's not happening. Maybe you have other sources that have better information.

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She very clearly stated that we're not looking to make a change in this off-season. She did not commit to anything beyond that. In fact, I was surprised that she made it sound like Aranda could be fired in mid season next year.

Overall, I've been pretty impressed with Livingstone as Prez, particularly in comparison to the outright disasters we've had outside of her this century. I think anyone who is pissed after listening to that interview is interpolating their own biases onto what President Livingstone actually said.

Biases are a 2-way street. Everyone has them. She doesn't seem to be in any rush to hire a new AD, and she continues to make futuristic statements about what Dave should do next year to improve his relationship with boosters and fans, and Dave is making future team plans implying that he knows he'll be here. I guess we'll see, but LL's actions speak a lot louder than her words. I believe she's just the "front man" for the BoR anyway.

Linda isn't in charge of this. The BOR is running the show.

True Grit said:

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Linda isn't in charge of this. The BOR is running the show.

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This is the grimmest reality of all.

I looked at the list of our Regents that was posted here. I think some are impressive. It looked stronger than the BOR of 10 years ago. So I'm not going to say it is bleak. I am also not sure how some who I think are impressive stack up in terms of vote percentage or persuasiveness etc.