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Lane Kiffin reacts to Ole Miss hiring John David Baker as offensive coordinator

Stephen Samraby: Steve Samra9 hours agoSamraSource

News broke on Tuesday that East Carolina offensive coordinator John David Baker is set to return to Ole Miss as their new offensive coordinator, per On3’s Pete Nakos. It’s came after Ty Howle decided to take the Virginia Tech position.

“With Ty Howle taking the Virginia Tech offensive coordinator job, Ole Miss is finalizing a deal with East Carolina offensive coordinator John David Baker, sources tell On3,” Nakos wrote. “Former Ole Miss co-OC.”

Evidently, Lane Kiffin is a fan of the move. The now-LSU head coach still has his eyes on Oxford, and he reacted to the decision on X (formerly Twitter): “Great hire!!!!! (fire emoji),” Kiffin wrote.

Kiffin may not be the most popular person amid Ole Miss fans, but he’s not shying away from commenting on the happenings around the program, even after he decided against staying. Now, it’ll be Baker who’s tasked with trying to keep up the Rebels offensive prowess, with Kiffin going to Baton Rouge.

He seems to be ready for the challenge. Baker joined the ECU staff in 2024 as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after previously spending time in Oxford under Kiffin from 2021-23. He was the passing game coordinator/tight ends coach and eventually the co-offensive coordinator.

A former quarterback, Baker started his coaching career in 2014 at Abilene Christian, where he played from 2009-13. He went on to North Texas and USC before joining the Rebels in 2021, and his career has blossomed from there.

More on the Ole Miss Rebels, College Football Playoff staff

Meanwhile, a lot of questions surround what the future will look like for the Ole Miss assistants from the Kiffin regime set to coach the Rebels in the playoffs. Promoted head coach Pete Golding cleared the air about the process they’ve begun, as well as what happened with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.

Weis boarded the plane with Kiffin to Baton Rouge, but will call plays for the Rebels in the playoffs: “What happened on Sunday, some of those guys wanted to give themselves the opportunity after the season to be able to (say), ‘Hey, am I going to coach at LSU, or am I going to coach at Ole Miss, based on what’s best for me and my family at that time?’” Golding stated.

“There was never any indecision with Charlie. When he left on Sunday, that, ‘Hey, I’m 1,000% coaching in the game for the players, and I just want to give myself the opportunity after this season concludes, whether I want to coach at LSU, obviously, with Coach Kiffin, or come back to Ole Miss and continue to be the offensive coordinator.’”

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.