LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has been trying hard to keep the current defensive coordinator on the team despite head coaching interest from other programs, and he just got the coach’s decision.
Blake Baker, LSU’s defensive coordinator last season, will be staying in Baton Rouge, according to reports, marking a significant coup for Kiffin, who keeps the successful coordinator who can lead the defense.
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Tulane was reportedly extremely interested in Baker, interviewing him for their head coach opening after Jon Sumrall announced his departure for Florida at the end of the season.
LSU arrived at LSU in 2023, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, paying him $2.5 million per year to leave the Missouri Tigers.
Kiffin is an offensive mind, specializing in crafting a playbook full of modern concepts, though he does not tend to call his offenses; instead, he leaves that up to the offensive coordinator, who calls the plays based on Kiffin’s ideas.
When he has found success as a head coach, Kiffin has been paired with a top defensive mind, and in Baker, the Tigers will hope for just that.
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Tulane was Baker’s alma mater, and he also got interest from Memphis, though he has spurned both and should end up getting a raise and potentially a longer leash at the program due to his commitment.
Lane Kiffin’s Reaction to Keeping Blake Baker as DC
As soon as Kiffin signed on with LSU, reports surfaced that he wanted to keep Baker, and on Friday night, he made sure LSU kept their man.
Kiffin was set to appear on College Gameday, which was in Atlanta for the SEC Championship, but he said that he needed to stay and make sure Baker remained a Tiger.
“Sorry couldn’t make it to Atlanta, but so excited that I stayed to finish this all up!!” Kiffin wrote on X. “@CoachBlakeBaker is going nowhere!!!! What a really long amazing Friday for @LSUfootball. #ItsDifferent”
Now that his staff is mainly assembled, the real work begins for the former Ole Miss head coach, who needs to deliver a National Championship soon to keep the LSU faithful happy.
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