A new head coach will roam the sideline for Wayland Baptist this season for the first time since WBU restarted its football program with the 2012 season. Following a search that lasted 65 days, the Pioneers promoted defensive coordinator Marcos Hinojos to replace Butch Henderson. Hinojos has been at Wayland since 2015 and served as interim head coach during the lengthy search.

Hinojos believes the defense will receive help from an offense that only produced 26 touchdowns last season. The offense plans to showcase frequent tempo changes and an expanded playbook. Hinojos has a good idea of what is difficult for defenses after spending over 30 years coaching that side of the ball, and he believes the offensive staff will take advantage of those weaknesses.