Baylor may not have to look far for its next head coach, as former quarterback Robert Griffin III is fascinated by the idea of coaching his alma mater.
The Bears fired head coach Dave Aranda on Sunday after he went 40-40 over six-and-a-half seasons and named Joe Klanderman interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Griffin was not shy about tossing his hat into the ring, revealing on Monday’s “Dan Patrick Show” that he was interested and that he’d spoken with Baylorâs athletic director Doug McNamee.
“Yes, 100 percent,” Griffin said. “If Baylor wants to get back to winning and have a university that isn’t just respectable on the football field, but the fans can be proud of, they need people who know what it looks like to win at Baylor. So yeah, I would 100 percent be interested.”
Griffin was a catalyst of success during his time in Waco. Baylor was 10-3 during Griffin’s Heisman Trophy season in 2011. The quarterback threw for 4,293 yards and 37 touchdowns and only six interceptions; he also ran for 699 yards and 10 TDs in what was the school’s first 10-win season since 1980.
The 36-year-old Griffin is currently a college football analyst for Fox Sports while hosting his “Outta Pocket” podcast.
Since Griffin departed for the NFL in 2012 to start an eight-year pro career, Baylor has achieved seven seasons of at least eight wins and three Big 12 championships.
The Bears (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) are 26-31 overall since a school-record 12 wins in 2021, which included a Big 12 Conference title and Sugar Bowl victory in Aranda’s second season.
McNamee said in an open letter Monday that the search for the next head coach was already underway. Still, the football calendar makes it likely that the university won’t make a hire until December.
Baylor lost 25-24 at Kansas on Saturday after having a field goal blocked in the final minute. That came after the end of a four-game winning streak in a 17-6 home loss to struggling TCU the previous week.
The Bears are set to face UCF (4-3) on Friday.
