LSU hires ex-Mizzou DC Blake Baker as new highest-paid assistant coach

Blake Baker of Missouri was named LSU’s new defensive coordinator on Friday by Brian Kelly.

According to a source, the three-year contract would pay Baker an estimated $2.5 million annually, making him the highest-paid assistant in college football.

Matt House is replaced by Baker, who became a member of Eli Drinkwitz’s staff in Columbia before the 2022 season as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

In a statement issued by the university, Kelly said, “Blake brings a wealth of experience and success as a defensive coordinator throughout his career, including the last two years in the SEC at Missouri.” “His ability to develop and motivate his players while putting together highly successful defences sets him apart in his field.”

Since his hiring, Baker has also served as defensive coordinator for Miami (2019–20) and Louisiana Tech (2015–18). In 2021, he will return to Baton Rouge, where he was Ed Orgeron’s linebackers coach.

House, along with three other coaches, Kerry Cooks, Robert Steeples, and Jimmy Lindsey, the defensive line coach, would not return in 2024, Kelly and the programme said on Wednesday.

As an assistant coach, Baker’s buyout of $1 million is quite high. Prior to this, he had signed a contract extension at Missouri that increased his pay to $1.1 million for the 2023 season.

Under his stewardship, Missouri’s defence ranked fifth in the SEC in both rushing defence (122.8 YPG) and total defence (336.1 YPG), and fourth in the league in scoring defence (20.8 PPG). Missouri defeated Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and finished the previous season with 11 wins.

After spending two seasons away from LSU, Baker will be expected to assist a team that didn’t live up to expectations regain its confidence.

Kelly has already recorded two 10-3 seasons at LSU, but the defence failed to perform as promised while Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was in charge of a powerful offence.

The Tigers’ defence allowed 28 points per game, which was tied for 78th place in the FBS with Akron, and placed 105th nationally in total defence (416.6 YPG).

LSU’s defence suffered greatly en route to losing games against Florida State, Ole Miss, and Alabama; in each of the three contests, they gave up at least 494 total yards and at least 42 points.

On September 1, LSU plays its first game of the 2024 season in the Vegas Kickoff Classic versus USC.