Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri formally announce hiring of defensive coordinator Corey Batoon

On Friday, reports surfaced claiming Missouri had hired South Alabama DC Corey Batoon as its next defensive coordinator. On Sunday, the Tigers officially announced the hire, along with a message from Batoon.

“The energy, passion, and plan that Coach Drinkwitz has is absolutely incredible,” Batoon said. “I am truly grateful to him for allowing me an opportunity to coordinate the Mizzou defense. As coaches, we want to challenge ourselves among the best of the best, and Missouri is in that mix.

“Just watching them from afar this past season, you could tell the program has a specialness to it and the upward trajectory is apparent. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the staff and players and get to work.”

Batoon will replace Blake Baker, who was hired as the LSU defensive coordinator earlier this offseason.

Batoon did an excellent job with the South Alabama defense this past season. The Jaguars allowed 21 points and 312.8 yards per game in 2023. South Alabama ranked No. 21 in scoring defense nationally and No. 15 in total defense in the country.

Corey Batoon spent three seasons on staff at South Alabama. In addition to serving as defensive coordinator, he also worked with Jaguars safeties. Drinkwitz is thrilled to add Batoon to his program.

“Our intent from the start of this search was to identify a leader for our death row defense who has proven success as a coordinator, and equally as important, is aligned with the philosophy of our defense,” Drinkwitz said. “Corey has been a part of championship-level teams at every stop along his path.

“He’s a veteran coach who’s battle tested, and has an ability to break things down and teach the game at a high level. I’m excited to see him bring those skills and experience to fit with our defensive approach.”

More on Corey Batoon’s résumé

Prior to coming to South Alabama, Batoon was on staff at Liberty. During his one season with the Flames in 2020, Liberty finished 10-1 and ranked in the top 25 in total defense and scoring defense. 

Batoon also previously spent time on staffs at Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic and Hawaii.

He is joining a Missouri program that is coming off of an 11-2 (6-2) season, which included a 14-3 win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Missouri ranked No. 34 in total defense nationally at 336.1 yards per game and No. 25 in scoring defense at 20.8 points per game in 2023. Batoon will look to improve these numbers in his debut campaign at the helm of Mizzou’s defense.