Blake Baker is headed back to LSU.
According to The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander, Blake Baker has been named as the next defensive coordinator of the LSU Tigers.
#LSU is expected to hire Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker, sources tell The Advocate. He has Louisiana ties and coached linebackers at LSU in 2021. Baker was not retained during the coaching change then, but now he’ll return as the next DC.https://t.co/e3sFeiPwDk
— Wilson Alexander (@whalexander_) January 6, 2024
Earlier this week, LSU head coach, Brian Kelly completely overhauled the Tigers’ staff, announcing the departures of DC, Matt House, DB coach, Robert Steeples, safeties coach, Kerry Cooks, and defensive line coach, Jimmy Lindsey. The firings came after LSU ranked 109th in the country, which included giving up 39 points against the aforementioned Missouri Tigers during LSU’s 49-39 thriller in Columbia, earlier this season.
Blake Baker’s Rise Since Leaving LSU
After being the Tigers’ Linebackers coach in 2021, Baker was not retained when Brian Kelly arrived in Baton Rouge. Baker would land in Missouri as the (other) Tigers’ safeties coach, before being promoted to defensive coordinator, this past season. Missouri ranked 113th in scoring defense, allowing 33.8 points per game before Baker took the reigns in 2023, which saw Mizzou surge all the way up to 25th in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 20.8 points per game.
On Dec. 21st, Missouri head coach, Eli Drinkwitz announced that Baker signed an extension, which would pay him $1.4 million per season, but when Brian Kelly came calling, Baker picked up the phone and seemingly quickly packed his bags to head back to the Bayou.
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