Baylor names Doug McNamee to replace Mack Rhoades as athletic director

Baylor has hired Doug McNamee as its next athletic director, the school announced on Monday.

McNamee is a former Baylor administrator who worked in various capacities in the athletic department from 2012 to 2018. Most recently, McNamee served as president of Field & Stream, the outdoor lifestyle brand, for three years. Before that, he was president of Magnolia, the Waco, Texas-based company founded by Baylor alumni Chip and Joanna Gaines.

The hiring of McNamee fills the void left by former Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades, who parted ways with the school last month. Rhoades, who was also previously the College Football Playoff selection committee chair, stepped down a week after taking a leave of absence from both positions.

McNamee, a Baylor alumnus, worked under both Rhoades and former Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw during his time as an administrator. McNamee spent five years with the Bear Foundation, the fundraising arm for Baylor athletics, before spending his last 15 months as Baylor’s associate athletic director for external affairs. He has long had ties to the school, with both of his grandparents working at Baylor and his father is also a graduate. As an undergraduate, McNamee was a student manager for the men’s basketball team.

He steps into Baylor athletics amid multiple challenges. Fan morale around the football team has been low as the Bears have struggled of late, enduring three losing seasons in the last four years under coach Dave Aranda.

After Rhoades stepped down, Baylor president Linda Livingstone announced that the school would retain Aranda despite the struggles. Livingstone cited the desire to allow the new AD time to assess Aranda and the football program, with the hopes of maintaining the roster and recruiting class, and avoiding additional financial challenges, including paying a potential buyout. Aranda’s buyout is believed to be at least $12 million. After guiding Baylor to a 12-2 record, Big 12 championship and Sugar Bowl victory in the 2021 season, Aranda signed a contract extension through the 2029 season.

“Doug’s familiarity with Baylor and his recent experience as the chief executive of two national lifestyle and media companies will serve him well as we prioritize increasing revenues, expanding external NIL opportunities for our student-athletes and growing our brand in this new era of college athletics while also engaging our passionate fanbase,” Livingstone said.