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Why coaching changes and transitions won’t slow Texas down: The Kenny Baker example of growth

by:Charlie Williams•about 15 hours
Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

When Bo Davis left for LSU last year, many wondered if Texas would take a step back. Davis was the definition of fire and brimstone, demanding relentless effort and toughness from his players. His coaching style was intense—he pushed guys to their limits and made it clear that there were no shortcuts to success. And then there’s the famous quote after the Iowa State loss, where Davis laid down the law for his room: “If you don’t like it, hop in the portal.”

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That moment became legendary, showing exactly what he expected from his players—commitment, work ethic, and an attitude that matched his own high standards.

Then, along came Kenny Baker to replace him.

Rather than trying to replicate Davis’ old-school, no-nonsense approach, Baker brought his own style—a mix of technical instruction, relatability, and mentorship. The results speak for themselves. Players who had been on campus for years suddenly played at a level they had never reached before, elevating themselves into NFL Draft prospects. Transfers came in and exceeded all expectations, proving that there’s more than one way to develop talent.

He’s also making waves in recruiting. He quickly built strong ties in DFW. Now, after a year recruiting the Southeast, his influence is growing even more. That helped Texas land Justus Terry—one of the best defensive tackles in the nation—right under Georgia’s nose.

Baker’s impact is undeniable, and players feel it. Khyren Haywood, a 2027 DL from Denton Guyer, praised his teaching style:

“Coach Baker just has a lot of wisdom and knowledge,” Haywood said. “He doesn’t make you feel a certain way if you don’t know something. He wants to teach you to make you better, and you can tell he has your best interest at heart.”

Respected DFW defensive line trainer Brandon Tucker, who has worked with countless college and NFL players, had high praise for Baker’s ability to develop talent:

“Coach Baker is going to do really good at Texas,” Tucker said. “I feel comfortable with my guys going to Austin. I know they’ll be coached up, taught well, taken care of on and off the field. He’s a great dude outside of football. You can tell he loves the game, but he loves the kids as well.”

Baker has made it through his first year, and now Texas has Chad Scott, Mark Orphey, and Duane Akina, with Akina obviously in a different category. Steve Sarkisian has shown he makes great hires and just as he does players, he recruits he makes sure coaches are a right fit for what he’s building. That’s been the pattern, and there’s no reason to doubt it now.

Fans may see the recruiting board shift. That’s okay. Let the new coach build his room how he wants. At the end of the day, it all falls on him—his success is tied to how well he develops and recruits his group. Texas has proven time and time again that it knows what it’s doing.

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So there’s reason to trust the hires. Because so far the results speak for themselves.

This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a standard.

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