Dave Aranda shares importance of relationship with his father prior to death

On the surface, it looked like Dave Aranda was going through a usual Big 12 Media Days. The Baylor head coach stepped up to the podium and answered reporters’ questions, just as he’s done every July since 2020.

But this was no usual trip to Arlington for Aranda. He sat behind the microphone with a heavy heart, just a few days after the death of his father, Paul. Still, Aranda felt he needed to represent Baylor and continue preparing for the season.

Aranda’s parents both immigrated from Mexico and settled in California, where he was born. He and his father had a special relationship, which was evident by the moment they shared after Aranda found out about his dad learned he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“I went and saw my dad when I first heard that he had cancer, and my dad and I have always — it’s always been a great relationship,” Aranda said. “He was never really someone that would say openly, ‘I love you.’ I always knew that he did, though.

“I remember when he called me and told me that he had pancreatic cancer and it was Stage 4, I told him that I loved him and he didn’t say it back. I don’t know if he heard me. So I wanted to go and say it to him face to face. I was able to do that. He gave me a big hug.”

It was no ordinary hug between Aranda and his father, though. Considering his dad didn’t say “I love you” out loud much, Aranda heard those words.

The moment was special, especially considering how many families around the world deal with it each day. But Aranda knows not everyone is as fortunate as he was.

“When you’re hugging and everything, you feel like, ‘Hey, this is a good hug,’ and he wouldn’t let me go. And he kept really strong and he told me that he loved me,” Aranda said. “I’m so glad that we had that moment because I know a lot of folks don’t have that.”

Now that Big 12 Media Days have come and gone, Aranda can focus on helping his family through the grieving process. That starts with an upcoming celebration of life, which will allow him to reconnect with family and share stories about his father.

One thing’s for sure, though. Aranda will always cherish how much his relationship with his father meant to him.

“We’re going to have a celebration of his life coming up on this Sunday, and there’s going to be just so many people that are going to be there that my dad touched,” Aranda said. “Family members that didn’t know they were a part of the family, relatives that needed help that my dad was there for. All these things.

“I’m just way proud to be his son.”