Missouri set to hire former LSU linebacker coach

The Missouri Tigers are going to hire Blake Baker as their new safeties coach, On3’s Matt Zenitz confirmed on Thursday evening. He coached LSU’s linebackers during the 2021-2022 season and is the former defensive coordinator at Miami and Louisiana Tech.

He learned that he would not be retained at LSU by their newly anointed head coach, Brian Kelly, in late December. He said goodbye to the program in an announcement in late December.

“Forever grateful for our time here in Baton Rouge. The opportunity to coach here was a dream come true. LSU will always be a special place for me and my family for so many reasons. We can’t say “Thank You” enough to all the people that played a part in making our experience such a memorable one. To the guys in the locker room, I will always cherish and appreciate the relationships we have built. Saying goodbye to y’all is always the hardest,” Baker wrote.

He spent two years at Miami and four at Louisiana Tech. In overseeing the Hurricanes‘ defense in 2019–the unit ranked 13th nationally in total defense and 12th in the nation in yards allowed per play. The 2019 Hurricane defense also ranked among the top 20 in the nation in rush defense (10th), redzone defense (16th) and pass defense (18th).

He’ll join the Missouri staff led by head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Baker will have his hands full in Columbia–as the Tigers’ scoring defense ranked 113th out of 130 qualifying teams in points allowed per game (33.8 ppg.) last year.

Missouri’s pass defense ranked 30th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game during last year (206.8 ypg). On the ground, the Tigers were shredded to the tune of 227 yards per game last year, ranking them 124th in the country.

Baker got his start at Clear Springs (League City, Texas), was also a graduate assistant for the Texas Longhorns, and also coached safeties at Arkansas State.

Missouri coaching staff has experienced high turnover in the off-season

The Missouri coaching staff has undergone a high amount of turnover in the 2021-2022 off-season. Cornerbacks coach Aaron Fletcher resigned from his position on Jan. 13. He took a role coaching the defensive backs at Arizona State. Former Missouri safeties coach Charlie Harbison also stepped away from his role a few weeks ago, which is exactly why they brought in Baker.