Andy Staples predicts Dave Aranda will be 2024's version of Neal Brown

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda will look to bounce the Bears back following their disappointing three-win season last year. Tasked with bringing the team back to the conference championship glory they achieved just a few seasons ago in a new look Big 12 Conference.

On3’s Andy Staples believes that Aranda is entering the 2024 season in a similar position that West Virginia head coach Neal Brown was in last year. And after turning things around and leading the Mountaineers to nine wins last season, Staples believes that Aranda can do the same in Waco.

“Baylor coach Dave Aranda will be this season’s version of Neal Brown,” Staples said. “Remember last season, every hot seat list started with West Virginia coach Neal Brown. Like this is it, he’s gonna get fired, he’s done.”

Brown’s first four years with WVU were split up by two five-win finishes and two six-win seasons. Entering 2023 in the hot seat that he cooled off quickly with a 9-4 finish and a key change that Aranda will be making as well this upcoming season.

“He retook offensive play-calling, Neal Brown made his bones as a coach as an offensive play-caller. It’s what he’s really good at, among other things. I would argue Neal Brown’s been a very good head coach in general at Troy and now you’ve seen what’s happened at West Virginia since,” Staples explained.

“Dave Aranda, three years removed from a Big 12 title at Baylor, he won the league in 2021. But then they go 6-7, they go 3-9 last year, and he is under fire. They need to improve immediately. What is the one thing that Dave Aranda can do really well? How did Dave Aranda make his bones?” Staples asked. “As a defensive play-caller. He’s taking over defensive play-calling duties again.”

Aranda going back to his roots and calling the plays for Baylor’s defense could be helpful for the Bears. Along with a change in offensive scheme following the addition of new OC Jake Spavital and several promising transfer portal additions, including at the most important position.

“DeQuan Finn is a quarterback they bring in from Toledo. He’s a sixth year senior, he was the MAC Most Valuable Player last year at Toledo, he’s played a lot of football. This feels like a situation where there’s a turnaround, where you go from 3-9 to being a bowl team, to you find a trajectory where you feel more confident and you don’t have to make a coaching change.”

Following a two-win first season at the helm for Baylor, Aranda completely turned things around with a 12-2 finish and a conference title in 2021. A turnaround that he will hopefully be able to replicate as he answers his most high-stakes season to take with the Bears.

“And I don’t think it’s a coaching change that Mack Rhoades and company Baylor want to make. I think they wanted to give Dave Aranda another chance, show he can coach his way out of this. He gave them a Big 12 title already, I think he can do it. I think he could do exactly what Neal Brown did last year, and end this season, in a much more comfortable place,” Staples concluded.