Baylor's Head Coaching Stalemate Ends, Briles Takes the Helm at Eastern New Mexico
In a surprise move, Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda has been retained for the 2026 season despite a dismal fall to the books. The 5-6 record has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, with many speculating about Aranda's future at the helm. However, the decision was made easier by the sudden departure of athletic director Mack Rhoades, who stepped down due to personal reasons.
As the Bears navigate this uncertainty, a familiar face is back on the coaching circuit. Former Baylor coach Art Briles has been hired by Division II Eastern New Mexico University, according to Brett McMurphy of On3. The three-year contract comes with a buyout of over $1 million, making it an attractive offer for Briles.
Briles' tenure at Baylor was marked by success, as he guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014. However, his time at the school came to an end abruptly in 2016 due to reasons unrelated to the program's on-field performance.
Before taking over at Baylor, Briles had a stint at Houston, where he accumulated a 65-37 record during his eight seasons. He also coached Mount Vernon High School for two years and won the championship with the Guelfi Firenze in the Italian Football League.
While it's unclear what this development means for Aranda's future, one thing is certain: Briles' hiring marks a significant turn of events in the Baylor program. As Eastern New Mexico looks to build on its recent success, fans are left wondering if Briles' coaching magic can be replicated in the Division II ranks.
In a surprise move, Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda has been retained for the 2026 season despite a dismal fall to the books. The 5-6 record has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, with many speculating about Aranda's future at the helm. However, the decision was made easier by the sudden departure of athletic director Mack Rhoades, who stepped down due to personal reasons.
As the Bears navigate this uncertainty, a familiar face is back on the coaching circuit. Former Baylor coach Art Briles has been hired by Division II Eastern New Mexico University, according to Brett McMurphy of On3. The three-year contract comes with a buyout of over $1 million, making it an attractive offer for Briles.
Briles' tenure at Baylor was marked by success, as he guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 championships in 2013 and 2014. However, his time at the school came to an end abruptly in 2016 due to reasons unrelated to the program's on-field performance.
Before taking over at Baylor, Briles had a stint at Houston, where he accumulated a 65-37 record during his eight seasons. He also coached Mount Vernon High School for two years and won the championship with the Guelfi Firenze in the Italian Football League.
While it's unclear what this development means for Aranda's future, one thing is certain: Briles' hiring marks a significant turn of events in the Baylor program. As Eastern New Mexico looks to build on its recent success, fans are left wondering if Briles' coaching magic can be replicated in the Division II ranks.
i remember when briles was at baylor and he was like a superhero coach 
winning all those big 12 championships and stuff but then he just got fired out of nowhere...like what even happened? 
now he's back on the coaching scene and its weird to see him in a different league tho maybe hes gonna bring some magic to eastern new mexico 
. The drama with Baylor was pretty intense, and I thought he'd been done for good. But hey, it looks like he's still got some magic left up his sleeve! 
The thing that intrigues me is how this affects Dave Aranda's future at Baylor. If Briles can turn around Eastern New Mexico, will it give the Bears a spark? We'll just have to wait and see... 
i've been a die hard art briles fan since his houston days and now he's back on the scene!!! i know some ppl might say his Baylor stint didn't exactly end on the best terms but let's be real, the guy won two big 12 championships 
and brought that winning vibe to the program. plus, he's still got that coaching magic 
so who cares what happened in 2016?? 
eastern new mexico better watch out cuz art briles is comin' for them!!! 
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i mean, 5-6 record at Baylor, that's not exactly his calling card, but hey, some people just can't get enough of the man 
. plus, his stint in italian football? that's just crazy, i mean who coaches high school and then gets paid to coach pro teams? 
i wonder if aranda is safe or if this means a full overhaul of the team 
eastern new mexico better be ready for whatever he brings! 
. It'll be fun to see how this all plays out, but I'm also kinda curious about Aranda's future 
. Is this the end for him or will he come back stronger?
! He's a coaching genius and has an amazing track record, especially at Baylor 
. Sure, his departure was weird, but it's clear he knows what he's doing. Eastern New Mexico is lucky to have him on board 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love an underdog story? 
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