IT’S A FAMILY MATTER

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

Dave Aranda's first look at Baylor came as a graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech 20 years ago.

But, it was because of his older daughter Jaelyn's interest that he started taking a closer look at the school that hired him as its head football coach on Jan. 17.

"When this job became available, I thought about family right away," said the 43-year-old Aranda, who also has a younger daughter, Jordyn, and a son, Ronin. "Jaelyn had Baylor as a school to look at, as a school that was a favorite of hers, where she wanted to go to school. And I remember that was when I first started to look at Baylor."

What he found was a school with a strong Christian mission and small classes, where education is important and "people care."

"People valued Baylor University and the sports programs," he said. "I could see that they were winning at a big stage, at a high level, and they were doing it the right way. You could see that, starting with Jaelyn."

During the coaching search, Baylor VP and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said he "kept going back" to Aranda. But, one of the final selling points was the house visit with Aranda, the three children and Dave's wife, Dione.

"Dione, thank you for letting six strangers hang out in your house for five hours," Rhoades said. "Dione served us jambalaya and gumbo and King Cake, and we knew we had hired the right person."

While growing up in Redlands, Calif., Dave started dating Dione during their sophomore year at Redlands High School.

"I was the linebacker, and she was the cheerleader," Dave said. "And those that meet her, she's still 100 percent a cheerleader."

Dave said he "would not be here" without his wife and what she gives to their family.

"(She is the) ultimate coach's wife, the effort and the energy you put into our family," he said. "I'm so proud of my three kids. I think everyone that meets them, they come and they talk about how great hearts they have and how they're able to look them in the eye and talk to them. My boy, Ronin, he's got complete sentences now, so it's all looking up."

Since they had enjoyed their previous time in Texas – he was at Texas Tech for three years and two as the linebackers coach at the University of Houston – Aranda said the family is excited about getting back in Texas after spending the last four years as the defensive coordinator at LSU.

"To be able to set foot in Waco and grow roots and have our girls enjoy high school and have Ronin come up through the ranks is something that me and my family look forward to very much," he said. "I think if we can have half the success that Chip and Joanna Gaines have had in Waco, we'll be all right."

Aranda, officially introduced as Baylor's head coach on Monday, added former Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana head coach Ron Roberts to his staff as defensive coordinator earlier this week. In terms of completing the staff, Dave said he is "really focused on getting the right people."

"I'm surprised and really flattered by the interest from all across the country," he said. "We've got to make sure it's the right fit for Baylor, for the state of Texas and the Texas High School Football Coaches Association. And we're in the process of doing that right now."

Baylor will open the 2020 season and Aranda era with a neutral-site game against Ole Miss on Sept. 5 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Season ticket renewals begin Feb. 5.

IT’S A FAMILY MATTER

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