It was almost too perfect to not work out. Just days following the decision to completely overhaul the defensive coaching staff, LSU has officially named former Missouri coach Blake Baker as the 2024 defensive coordinator for the purple and gold.
Former Missouri DC Blake Baker named new LSU defensive coordinator
Historically, the purple and gold have been synonymous with elite defense and even better defensive back play. However, when taking a look at their performance in 2023, it was clear that something needed to change.
Ranking No. 105 in total offense (416.6 yards allowed per game), No. 78 in scoring defense (28 points allowed per game), No. 115 in passing yards allowed (255.6 per game) and No. 85 in rushing yards allowed (161 per game), it’s hard to imagine things getting much worse.
Luckily for Tiger fans, coach Brian Kelly was well aware of this and has made it abundantly clear that he expects to compete at a championship level from here on out.
Only further pushing this narrative, on January 3, he announced that four defensive coaches (defensive coordinator Matt House, safeties coach Kerry Cooks, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey) would not be returning to the program in 2024.
In a statement, he said, “Moving forward, we will continue working to build a championship caliber coaching staff in support of our mission to Graduate Champions.”
Now, just days later, in an effort to continue working towards a championship caliber coaching staff, former Missouri coach Blake Baker has been named the new LSU defensive coordinator.
Baker previously worked in Baton Rouge in 2021 as the linebackers coach, so the 2008 Tulane graduate is no stranger to the area. Additionally, he joins the Tiger staff with eight years of defensive coordinator experience (Louisiana Tech 2015-18, Miami 2019-20, Missouri 2022-23).
In just his second year with Mizzou, he helped the Tigers to the No. 25 defense in the country, ending the year with a 14-3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State.
While it may take some time to get back to the ways of a top-tier Tiger defense, this already looks like a hire that should have LSU moving in the right direction in 2024.
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