Bauer brings proven expertise to Fort Worth, forging tougher athletes and fueling TCU's drive for Big 12 dominance.
TCU made a statement this week, but it wasn't in the transfer portal.
The Horned Frogs announced the addition of Darl Bauer as Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Football Human Performance, and while that title may not sell jerseys, this move could pay dividends on Saturdays in the fall.
Bauer arrives in Fort Worth with nearly two decades of experience building football bodies the right way.
Most recently, he spent two seasons running strength and conditioning at Troy, where the Trojans quietly became one of the more physical teams in the Sun Belt.
That 2025 squad went 8-6, played meaningful football into December, and came within one possession of extending its season in the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
His coaching journey started in the Midwest at Hillsdale College, where he first dipped his toes into player development while earning his degree in physical education.
From there, Bauer climbed the ladder the hard way while grinding through graduate assistant roles at West Virginia before earning full-time responsibilities and eventually overseeing applied performance for the Mountaineers.
That reputation followed him to Houston, where Bauer joined Dana Holgorsen’s staff and helped prepare a program that sent 12 players to the NFL. Bowl wins followed. So did credibility.
Now he steps into a pivotal role at TCU, replacing Kaz Kazadi, who had been a foundational piece of Sonny Dykes’ staffs at both SMU and TCU.
That’s no small baton to take, but Bauer isn’t walking into this blind.
His background blends sports science, practical strength development, and the kind of organizational discipline modern programs demand.
Think fewer Instagram workouts. More fourth-quarter stamina.
This hire also fits a clear pattern in Fort Worth.
TCU has spent the offseason reshaping its staff with intention, adding offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis, quarterbacks coach Brad Robbins, and running backs coach Antonio Wilcox.
Bauer’s arrival completes another piece of that puzzle, especially as the Frogs chase consistency and durability in a league that now feels like a weekly car crash.
With spring approaching and the transfer portal clock winding down, the Frogs aren’t chasing headlines, but they’re building infrastructure.
Bauer’s job will be simple to describe and brutally hard to execute: keep players healthy, strong, and ready when November hits.
If he succeeds, no one will be talking about the weight room. They’ll be talking about wins.