Baylor Tabs Joe Klanderman as Defensive Coordinator

WACO, Texas (BAYLOR) - Baylor football announced the addition of Joe Klanderman, who has led the defense at Kansas State for the last six seasons, as the defensive coordinator for the Bears, head coach Dave Aranda released on Thursday.

One of the nation’s top defensive minds, Klanderman joins the Bears after spending the last seven years overall with the Cats, also serving as the safeties coach in 2019, and coordinating the defense from 2020-25. He was the defensive backs coach from 2014-18 at North Dakota State, helping NDSU win four national titles in five years, which followed 12 years on the defensive staff at his alma mater, Minnesota State.

Spending six seasons helming the Wildcats’ defense, he helped his unit become one of the most consistent in the conference. 

Over the last five years, Klanderman’s defenses have ranked in the nation’s top 30 in defensive efficiency rating, including 27th in 2025, 24th in 2024, 16th in 2023, 14th in 2022 and 21st in 2021.

“It is an honor to join the Baylor Family and work with Coach Aranda and the entire staff,” Klanderman said. ”I’m thrilled to work with our student-athletes and build a defense that represents the things we take pride in, physicality, relentless effort and discipline. My family and I are excited to join Dave’s staff and are eager to get started in Waco.”

A key figure in Kansas State’s 2022 Big 12 Title, Klanderman helped engineer one of the nation’s most opportunistic defenses. The Wildcats ranked top-30 nationally in interceptions, turnovers gained, scoring defense, and third-down defense, highlighted by a pivotal fourth-and-goal stop in overtime of the Big 12 title game against No. 3 TCU. 

“Joe brings a proven defensive mindset and a passion for building relationships that fits exactly what we value here at Baylor,” Baylor Coach Dave Aranda said. “Joe is a teacher at heart, someone who cares deeply about people and invests completely in the development of young men. His defenses have always reflected discipline, toughness and unity, and I’m grateful to welcome him to Baylor. We’re excited for the impact he’ll make on our program, both on and off the field. We’re thrilled to have him join the Baylor family.”

Since 2019, a total of eight Wildcat defenders have heard their name called in the NFL draft, including at least one in four of the past five years. Additionally, 47 Wildcats have garnered All-Conference honors across his six seasons as defensive coordinator.

Prior to his time in Manhattan, he spent five seasons at North Dakota State, helping the Bison secure four FCS national championships. 

During his tenure, NDSU ranked top-five nationally in scoring defense all five years and compiled 100 interceptions, including a nation-leading 23 in 2018. His 2016 defense ranked fourth in the FCS in scoring defense and 14th in total defense. In 2017, his defense led the nation in yards allowed and ranked second in scoring defense. The 2018 unit ranked second in scoring defense and interceptions and fifth in yards allowed. 

Before that, he served 12 seasons at his alma mater, Minnesota State, including seven as defensive coordinator, producing 26 first-team all-conference selections and 10 All-Americans while helping guide the Mavericks to five nine-win seasons.

A product of Hammond, Wis., Klanderman was a four-year letterwinner at Minnesota State, earning both his bachelor’s (2001) and master’s (2004) degrees from MSU. He and his wife, Amanda, have four children: Elle, Corryn, Jarrett, and James.

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