A New AD
Earlier this week, Baylor officially named Doug McNamee (‘03, MSEd ‘05) as its new Athletic Director.
McNamee returns to Baylor after previously serving as Baylor Athletics’ Senior Associate AD before departing in 2018. Since then, he has served as president of Magnolia and, most recently, Field & Stream. As a student, McNamee worked for Baylor baseball, men’s basketball, and student-athlete services.
In a press release from Baylor Athletics, McNamee stated,” Stepping into corporate leadership allowed me to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, hunger, and financial discipline required to thrive in today’s environment and the one ahead. Returning to my alma mater in this capacity is a profound honor and responsibility. I do not take it lightly.”
During a one-on-one, President Linda Livingstone said McNamee “brought all the things to the table that we were looking for” during the search for a new athletics director. She preached how McNamee knows and loves Baylor.
As a third-generation Bear himself, McNamee wants Baylor fans to know he is one of them: “We hear them, and we need them.”
Baylor men’s basketball head coach Scott Drew commented that McNamee is a “grand slam hire” and praised his connections and understanding of the business world that would make him an ideal choice to lead the department.
Football
Reset Button – After finishing 5-7 and missing the bowl game eligibility, Baylor football announced it will decline any postseason bowl invitation to focus on preparation for 2026. This decision didn’t come lightly, as two other teams in the Big 12 declined a bowl game invitation and were fined $500,000 – Baylor avoided fines due to not being bowl eligible originally.
RGIII- Former Baylor Heisman winner Robert Griffin III is set to call his first NFL game for Fox Sports on Sunday during the New Orleans Saints game against the Carolina Panthers. Griffin expressed that this game is meaningful to him since his family is rooted in New Orleans.
Role Changes – Defensive coordinator Matt Powledge is set to leave Waco and transfer to North Texas, under their new head coach, Neal Brown. Powledge is the first staff departure since the announcement of Doug McNamee as its new athletic director. Despite the departure, a quick search has found Joe Klanderman, Kansas State’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach, as the program’s next addition.
Boundaries in the Holiday Season
Allison M. Alford, Ph.D., clinical associate professor of business communication at the Hankamer School of Business and author of the upcoming book, “Good Daughtering,” specializes in the study of how adult daughters carry the “invisible labor” of holding a family unit together.
From a Baylor article, Alford said, “This year, consider a new approach: prioritizing what feels right for you and letting others adjust.”
When it comes to the holiday season, the eldest daughter often feels like it is her duty to uphold the family traditions. Alford goes on to explain that it is important to prioritize what you want for this holiday season and that it is okay to say no. Putting yourself first with clear communication and accepting pushback can lead to a joyful season.
All The Laughs
Fast-rising stand-up comedian John Crist will bring his sold-out “John Crist Live Tour” to Waco Hall on Sunday, April 19, at 7 p.m., bringing his signature relatable humor about faith, family, and everyday life.
Crist is best known for his special “What Are We Doing?” “John Crist: Emotional Support,” and made his first late-night debut earlier this year. Crist also has a podcast, Net Positive, which consistently charts on Spotify and Apple.
Fall Sports Roundup
Men’s Basketball – Men’s basketball earned the Future Bears Day 97-67 victory against Norfolk State on Wednesday afternoon. Six players totaled in the double digits; Waco native, senior center Caden Powell, earned a season-high in points along with seven rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot. Baylor’s defense blocked 10 Spartan shots, the most blocked shots since the game against TCU in 2019.
Women’s Basketball – Women’s basketball secured a 90-36 win over Alabama State on Tuesday afternoon during Future Bears Day in a crowd of over 3,000 local students. Graduate guard Jana Van Gytenbeek recorded the program’s first triple-double since 2022. Redshirt sophomore guard Taliah Scott had her fifth career 30-point game, scoring 30 flat – when the team reached the score 67, head coach Nicki Collen surprised the crowd with the viral “6,7” movement.
Baseball – Baseball has released its 2026 season tickets, which include 29 home games. The headlining games include series against West Virginia, BYU, TCU, Texas Tech, and UCF. Baylor is coming off a 33–22 season under head coach Mitchell Thompson, tying the program’s most regular-season wins since 2017.
Volleyball – No. 6 seed Baylor volleyball saw its 2025 season end after falling 3-1 to No. 3 seed Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears completed their 10th-straight appearance in the tournament with a final record of 18-10, marking up a 12-plus conference win for the sixth time in the last seven years. Freshman outside hitter Ksenia Rakhmanchik extended her streak to nine-straight matches with double-digit kills, while also adding another historic honor, earning AVCA First Team All-Region (Southwest) recognition.
Women’s Tennis – Women’s tennis released its 2026 spring season with a 24-match slate featuring 12 home contests at the Hawkins Indoor and Hurd Tennis centers. In their previous season, after a campaign that ended with a No.24 ITA ranking, marking the program’s 18th top-25 finish under head coach Joey Scrivano.
