LSU expected to hire Missouri's Blake Baker as defensive coordinator

LSU is expected to hire Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker to the same role, On3 and The Bengal Tiger’s Billy Embody reported. He will replace Matt House, who was let go this week as Brian Kelly opted to hit the reset button on defense.

Baker emerged as a top candidate for the LSU opening on Thursday after helping Missouri put together an impressive 2023 season. The Tigers ranked No. 5 in the SEC in total defense, holding teams to 336.1 yards per game.

LSU, meanwhile, allowed 416.6 yards per game, which ranked 13th in the SEC, and gave up 35 points five times in 13 games. That ultimately led Kelly to part ways with House on Wednesday, and he now has his replacement in the plans.

It’s a return to Baton Rouge for Blake Baker, who was previously on Ed Orgeron’s staff as linebackers coach in 2021 before joining forces with Eli Drinkwitz at Missouri. He started his coaching career in 2009 at the high school level, but latched on at Texas as a graduate assistant from 2010-12. He then became the safeties coach at Arkansas State in 2013 and took the same role at Louisiana Tech in 2014.

In 2015, Louisiana Tech promoted Baker to defensive coordinator, and he stayed in that role until 2018 when he left to become the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Miami. After two years there, he made his way to LSU as linebackers coach under Orgeron, and eventually headed to Columbia in 2021.

Why LSU was likely to move quickly to replace Matt House

Kelly is moving swiftly to replace House — something The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon hinted was a possibility earlier this week. While Kelly could’ve taken his time in hiring a replacement with National Signing Day in the past, he also likely had a plan considering the timing of his decision to fire the defensive coaching staff.

“I think that this is a process, knowing whether he was going to fire Matt House or not that, [Kelly has] vetted or at least gone through, ‘Hey, look, here’s a list of guys that we would have interest in,’” Dixon told Andy Staples on On3 Roundtable. “So I would imagine things happen somewhat quickly here. Look, it could come from the NFL ranks. The season’s still going, I guess Black Monday or whatever is coming up for the NFL here soon.

“But by that same token, and I remind LSU fans this. Nick Saban didn’t hire his OC and DC until February last year. So this is a process that could stretch out.”