General 11/15/2021 5:09:00 PM

Dave Aranda Named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Aranda receives award after leading Baylor to win over previously undefeated No. 8 Oklahoma

ATLANTA (Nov. 15, 2021) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week presented by PNC.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

The No. 13 Baylor Bears defeated the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners 27-14 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas on Saturday. The Bears used a dominant second half to pull away from the Sooners, led by junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon and his 117 yards and one passing touchdown on top of his impressive 107 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Senior wide receiver Tyquan Thorton led the Bears' receiving attack with four receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. The Baylor defense stood stout against the Sooner offense with nine tackles-for-loss, five sacks and two interceptions total. Senior linebacker Terrel Bernard led the efforts with nine tackles and two sacks. Kalon Barnes and Al Walcott had the two Baylor interceptions.

This was the Bears' second win this season over a ranked team and first against a College Football Playoff ranked team under Dave Aranda. The win also marked Baylor's first win against Oklahoma since 2014 and first versus a Top-10 team since 2015.

"Coach Aranda is already leaving his mark at Baylor in just his second season, giving the Bears their highest-ranked win since 2015," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "Coach Dodd's teams were good at wearing down a defense and pulling away in the second half. Baylor used that same strategy to get this important win."

A 2020 National Champion and 25-year coaching veteran, Dave Aranda was named the 28th head coach in Baylor Football history on Jan. 16, 2020. In his first season at Baylor, Aranda's program featured his first player earning All-American honors and nine players were selected to the All-Big 12 teams.

Off the football field, Aranda has been instrumental in leading Baylor in the classroom, boasting an impressive Academic Progress Rate of 974. For the 2020 football season, Baylor had 21 players selected to the Academic All Big 12 Football Team.

In the community, Aranda is involved as a guest speaker and figure at Lauren's First and Goal Coaches Clinic, which works to raise benefits for pediatric brain cancer. Under Aranda's leadership, Baylor defensive back Bryon Hanspard Jr. has been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his work in the classroom and community.

"Watching what Coach Aranda has accomplished at Baylor has been impressive," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO & President Gary Stokan. "But he's been just as successful off the field, already leading the Bears to new heights in the classroom and community."

The Dodd Trophy presented by PNC - along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2021 season. The winner of the 2021 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of this year's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

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