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Former LSU associate head coach and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is set to be hired as Baylor’s next football coach, SicEm365 has learned. The 43-year old spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Tigers (2016-2019) after three seasons at Wisconsin (2013-2015), one season at Utah State (2012) and two seasons at Hawaii (2010-2011) in the same position from 2010-2015.

After being hired by LSU in January of 2016 to be the defensive coordinator, Aranda was promoted to associate head coach in September of the same year.

While at LSU, Aranda’s total defense ranked No. 10 nationally in 2016, No. 12 in 2017, No. 25 in 2018 and as part of LSU’s National Championship team in 2019 ranked No. 31. At Wisconsin his defenses ranked No. 7 in 2013, No. 4 in 2014 and No. 2 in 2015. His 2012 Utah State unit ranked No. 14.

Aranda’s 2019 National Championship defense finished ranked No. 18 nationally according to SP+, collecting 37.0 sacks and forcing 22 turnovers. The Tigers held a potent Clemson offense that averaged 43.9 points and 528.7 yards per game on the season to just 25 points and 394 yards.

Aranda was reportedly the highest paid assistant coach in all of college football at LSU, earning a $2.5 million salary in a four-year deal with the Tigers. Aranda signed the contract in 2018 and had two years remaining. The raise and extension was in response to Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher who made a valiant effort to hire Aranda for the same position.

Additionally, Aranda was linked to the University of Texas defensive coordinator position that opened after the 2019 football season when head coach Tom Herman fired Todd Orlando after a 7-5 regular season where the Longhorns struggled defensively. Aranda elected to stay at LSU.

Aranda graduated from Cal Lutheran in 1999 and received his masters from Texas Tech.

Aranda will take over an 11-3 Baylor team that finished ranked No. 39 nationally in defense in 2019.