Successful seasons can come with attrition as other teams try to improve their staff and personnel for the following year.
That’s exactly what the SMU football program is experiencing as an assistant coach has decided to leave the team after its best season in four decades.
Running backs coach Khenon Hall is heading to Waco to join the Baylor coaching staff as the Bears’ associate head coach and running backs coach.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Baylor Family and be a part of Coach Aranda’s staff,” a statement from Hall read on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “The opportunity to learn from one of the sharpest minds in college football and continue to grow in my coaching career is something I couldn’t pass up and is truly a blessing. I’m excited to get to work with Coach Aranda, Coach (Jake) Spavital and all of our talented student-athletes at Baylor.”
Hall is a Dallas native and former South Oak Cliff High School standout who joined the SMU staff as running backs coach and run game coordinator when Rhett Lashlee was named the head coach after the 2021-22 season. During his time with the Mustangs, he helped establish the 37th-best rushing attack in the nation with more than 180 yards per game and continued to develop players like LJ Johnson, Jaylan Knighton, Tyler Lavine, and Camar Wheaton.
Hall has also coached at Texas Southern and Illinois State and is the second new hire for the Baylor coaching staff since the Bears’ season ended with a 3-9 record, joining new offensive coordinator and ex-Texas State head coach Jake Spavital. SMU has not yet established a timetable to find his replacement.
“I am excited to add Khenon to our staff,” Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said in an official announcement. “Khenon is an extremely talented young coach, who will have a great impact on our running backs room while also helping our recruiting efforts. His energy, love for the game, and all-around feel for the state of Texas has earned him a huge amount of respect as a recruiter. I have zero doubt that Khenon will make a great impact on our team, and I can’t wait to get started with him in Waco.”
