College football’s coaching carousel is absolutely wild right now, and Baylor just took center stage. The program fired head coach Dave Aranda on Sunday after seven seasons, reportedly shelling out a massive $12 million for the buyout. Yeah, you read that right: $12 million to move on from a coach. That’s a huge chunk of change to drop, especially after Maryland and NC State already started this whole financial headache.
Dave Aranda Out, $12 Million To Go
It’s been a tough ride for Baylor, even with Aranda’s 40-40 record over seven seasons. The seat got super hot recently after disappointing losses to TCU and Kansas. This was after they started the season 4-1, so it felt like he had cooled things down, but those two losses sealed his fate. Since Baylor is a private school, they don’t have to release coaching contracts publicly, but the $12 million figure has been reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and was believed to be about the same last season. So, who’s next to try and turn things around? The early names floating around to replace Aranda include Boise State’s Spencer Danielson and UTSA’s Jeff Traylor. It’s a high-stakes job with a hefty price tag attached to the last guy.
Maryland and NC State Also Feeling the Burn
Baylor was the third Power Four program to hit the reset button, but Maryland actually kicked off this coaching frenzy. They fired Mike Locksley on Wednesday after eight seasons where he went 39-54. He was under contract through 2028, but a 2-5 start to the season, including losses to Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and UCLA, meant it was time for a change. Maryland owes Locksley around $9.75 million, with half of that due within sixty days. And here’s the kicker: there are no offsets if he takes another job. Ouch. Names being mentioned to take over include Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert, New Mexico’s Jason Eck, and Memphis’ Charles Huff.
Not to be outdone, NC State opted for a rare Saturday afternoon firing, letting go of Dave Doeren after a whopping 14 seasons. Before the season, there were whispers that this might be his last year, but that was for retirement, not getting the axe. Doeren finished with a 98-73 record, but now NC State is on the hook for approximately $10.3 million to buy out the rest of his contract, which ran through 2029. They owe him a little over $600,000 in the next 30 days, then the rest in monthly installments. He does have a clause requiring him to make “reasonable efforts” to find another job, which could offset some of that buyout. Keep an eye on former NC State quarterback great Philip Rivers as an early candidate to fill Doeren’s shoes.
What’s Next for the Carousel?
With these three Power Four programs already making massive changes and dropping serious cash to do it, you have to wonder who’s next. The financial implications are staggering: these schools are spending tens of millions to move on from coaches who aren’t delivering. As the coaching carousel spins faster and gets more expensive, all eyes are on these programs to see who they bring in and if it’s worth the price tag. The coaching searches are just beginning, and these new hires will set the tone for the next few years, hopefully without another multi-million dollar buyout lurking around the corner.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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