In a move to revitalize their struggling offense, Baylor University has announced the hiring of California's offensive coordinator, Jake Spavital. Sources within the program revealed the news to The Athletic on Thursday, solidifying Spavital's role as the new offensive coordinator for the Bears.

Spavital, a 38-year-old Oklahoma native, made a significant impact during his time at Cal this year. He played a key role in guiding the Bears to their first bowl eligibility in five years. Under his leadership, Cal's rushing offense saw a remarkable transformation, jumping from a dismal national ranking of 122 to an impressive 37th place. Additionally, the Bears ascended from last place in the Pac-12 to a respectable fourth place finish.

One of Spavital's notable achievements was his development of Fernando Mendoza, a former FCS recruit who emerged as a capable starting quarterback. Mendoza's performance in the regular season propelled Cal to end on a three-game winning streak, during which he threw seven touchdowns.

Spavital boasts an extensive background in the Big 12 and Texas football. He served as the offensive coordinator at West Virginia for two seasons before assuming the head coaching position at Texas State. His expertise also spans across his previous roles as an offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, as well as a member of the coaching staff at Oklahoma State and Houston.

Baylor's offense faced significant challenges during the 2021 season, ranking 13th out of 14 teams in the Big 12 in yards per play and concluding the year with a disappointing 3-9 record. Head coach Dave Aranda, who was under scrutiny after the subpar performance, has been granted more time to implement a strategic plan to improve both sides of the ball.

As part of this plan, Aranda sought an experienced offensive coordinator to take charge of the Bears' offense. Spavital's accomplishments and head coaching experience positioned him as the ideal candidate to fulfill this role. Aranda, known for his defensive prowess, will focus on play-calling and defensive game-planning moving forward.

The decision to hire Spavital came after parting ways with former offensive coordinator, Jeff Grimes, on Sunday. Grimes, who was instrumental in Baylor's 12-2 record and Big 12 championship victory, saw a decline in scoring this season, dropping from an average of 32.2 points per game in 2022 to 23.1 points per game, ranking last in the conference.

In addition to the changes in coaching staff, Baylor will also be welcoming a new starting quarterback as Blake Shapen has declared his intent to enter the transfer portal. With a fresh coaching approach led by Spavital and the anticipated arrival of a new signal-caller, the Bears look to bounce back and showcase a revitalized offense in the upcoming season.

As Spavital embarks on this new opportunity and brings his offensive expertise to Baylor, the program hopes to regain their prominence in the Big 12 and compete at the highest level in college football once again.