The LSU Tigers are trying to get over the hump and back to competing to national championships like they did a few years ago with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and company.
Brian Kelly had success at Notre Dame — but there too — never got the Irish over the hump to win the ultimate prize in college football.
LSU is a different beast. The Tigers play in the SEC — the best conference in the country where multiple fan bases expect national titles on a regular basis. Kelly has done well there so far, and even produced this year’s Heisman Trophy QB with Jayden Daniels having a remarkable season.
Ironically, Kelly lost his offensive coordinator to Notre Dame roughy two weeks ago, so LSU has holes to fill on the coaching staff. But that move didn’t prevent the LSU head coach from making a major change of his own.
A 10-3 season with two losses in the SEC isn’t good enough in Baton Rouge, and Brian Kelly knows it.
The LSU Tigers announced Wednesday that defensive coordinator Matt House, defensive backs coaches Kerry Cooks and Robert Steeples, and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey had been let go. LSU allowed 28 points per game in 2023 and ranked 82nd in scoring defense.
“I want to thank each of these coaches for their work on behalf of our football program and our institution during their time here,” Kelly said in a statement. “Decisions like these are always difficult, and we do not make them lightly, but they are made with the best interests of our program and our student-athletes in mind. Moving forward, we will continue working to build a championship caliber coaching staff in support of our mission to graduate champions.”
House was one of Kelly’s first coaching hires after the former Notre Dame coach was hired ahead of the 2022 season. Before he became LSU’s defensive coordinator, House coached linebackers for the Kansas City Chiefs for three seasons.
LSU went 10-3 in 2023 but failed to be a contender for the College Football Playoff or the SEC West despite having Heisman winner Jayden Daniels at quarterback. The 2023 LSU Tigers LSU gave up at least 42 points in each of its losses, including surrendering 45 to Florida State in Week 1 and losing 55-49 to Ole Miss on Sept. 30. While LSU’s offense averaged 8.4 yards per play and looked unstoppable at times, the defense gave up 6.1 yards per play and more than 400 yards per game.
The Tigers also allowed at least 30 points in five of their wins. Daniels didn’t play in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday, and LSU was forced to come back from an early 14-0 deficit, needing a late touchdown to secure a 35-31 win over Wisconsin.
Multiple Insiders Reveal Mizzou’s Blake Baker Frontrunner for LSU Defensive Coordinator Opening
Kelly is a smart football coach, and likely didn’t make such a major decision without having a plan in place.
LSU likely fired house and company with a clear candidate in mind — and according to recent reports — it’s one from the SEC that has had major success in a short period of time.
Kelly is reportedly eying the recent Miizzou DC, who’s been responsible for a quick turnaround in a short period of time for the Tigers.
Missouri’s Blake Baker has emerged as a leading target for the LSU defensive coordinator job, sources tell 247Sports’ Brandon Marcello and Matt Zenitz. Led by Baker, Missouri has gone from ranking 113th nationally in total defense in 2021 to ranking 25th this season. Baker signed a new contract at Mizzou in December that makes him one of the highest-paid assistants in the SEC. Baker, a former Tulane linebacker, previously worked at LSU as linebackers coach in 2021 and was DC at Louisiana Tech (15-18).
While Baker may be one of the highest paid assistants in the SEC as of now, the LSU Tigers have an alumni base and the backers to fatten his pockets even further. And to be blunt, the LSU defensive coordinator job is far more appealing for most coaches than Mizzou. While Missouri has made major strides in the conference as of late, they have a ways to go to become the brand that is LSU football.
If two trusted insiders are reporting Baker is Kelly’s primary target, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear an official announcement sooner rather than later. Baker’s tenure at Mizzou will likely be a short one.