Here's the release:
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri football head coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced Blake Baker as the Tigers’ new safeties coach on Thursday. Baker spent two seasons at Miami (2019-20) before joining the LSU staff to coach the linebackers for the 2021 season.
“I’m pleased to welcome Coach Baker and his family to our program,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “Blake brings immense experience coaching defense. He’s a valuable addition to our program.”
Baker comes to Mizzou with six years of experience as a defensive coordinator – two at Miami and four at Louisiana Tech. In addition to his coordinator duties with Miami and Louisiana Tech, Baker also coached the linebackers at both schools.
“I’m thankful and honored to contribute to the culture Coach Drinkwitz is building here at Missouri,” Baker said. “My family and I are excited to be in Columbia and we look forward to getting to know our staff and student-athletes.”
He joined the Hurricanes in January of 2019 and in his first year, he oversaw a Miami defense that ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense and 12th in the nation in yards allowed per play. The 2019 Hurricane defense also ranked among the top 20 in the nation in rush defense (No. 10), redzone defense (No. 16) and pass defense (No. 18).
Prior to arriving in Coral Gables, Baker spent four seasons (2015-18) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Louisiana Tech where the Bulldogs had one of the nation’s top defenses when it came to impact plays. In 2018, Louisiana Tech ranked No. 4 in the nation in sacks per game, No. 12 in tackles for loss and No. 33 in turnovers gained.
He spent the 2013 season as the safeties coach at Arkansas State where he helped the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt Conference co-Championship and a win over Ball State in the GoDaddy Bowl. That year, Arkansas State ranked No. 3 in the Sun Belt in both scoring defense (26.2 points per game) and pass defense (232.9 yards per game).
Baker got his start in collegiate coaching at Texas, where he was a graduate assistant for the Longhorns from 2010-12. With the Longhorns, Baker worked with the linebackers and defensive backs, two position groups that featured eight All-Big 12 selections over that span.
Prior to joining the Texas staff, Baker spent the 2009 season as a wide receivers coach at Clear Springs High School in Houston, before taking over duties as linebackers coach the following spring.
The Houston native was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at linebacker for Tulane from 2000-04. In 42 career games, he racked up 145 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks. He helped lead the Green Wave to a win in the 2002 Hawaii Bowl. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Tulane in 2008.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri football head coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced Blake Baker as the Tigers’ new safeties coach on Thursday. Baker spent two seasons at Miami (2019-20) before joining the LSU staff to coach the linebackers for the 2021 season.
“I’m pleased to welcome Coach Baker and his family to our program,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “Blake brings immense experience coaching defense. He’s a valuable addition to our program.”
Baker comes to Mizzou with six years of experience as a defensive coordinator – two at Miami and four at Louisiana Tech. In addition to his coordinator duties with Miami and Louisiana Tech, Baker also coached the linebackers at both schools.
“I’m thankful and honored to contribute to the culture Coach Drinkwitz is building here at Missouri,” Baker said. “My family and I are excited to be in Columbia and we look forward to getting to know our staff and student-athletes.”
He joined the Hurricanes in January of 2019 and in his first year, he oversaw a Miami defense that ranked No. 13 nationally in total defense and 12th in the nation in yards allowed per play. The 2019 Hurricane defense also ranked among the top 20 in the nation in rush defense (No. 10), redzone defense (No. 16) and pass defense (No. 18).
Prior to arriving in Coral Gables, Baker spent four seasons (2015-18) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Louisiana Tech where the Bulldogs had one of the nation’s top defenses when it came to impact plays. In 2018, Louisiana Tech ranked No. 4 in the nation in sacks per game, No. 12 in tackles for loss and No. 33 in turnovers gained.
He spent the 2013 season as the safeties coach at Arkansas State where he helped the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt Conference co-Championship and a win over Ball State in the GoDaddy Bowl. That year, Arkansas State ranked No. 3 in the Sun Belt in both scoring defense (26.2 points per game) and pass defense (232.9 yards per game).
Baker got his start in collegiate coaching at Texas, where he was a graduate assistant for the Longhorns from 2010-12. With the Longhorns, Baker worked with the linebackers and defensive backs, two position groups that featured eight All-Big 12 selections over that span.
Prior to joining the Texas staff, Baker spent the 2009 season as a wide receivers coach at Clear Springs High School in Houston, before taking over duties as linebackers coach the following spring.
The Houston native was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at linebacker for Tulane from 2000-04. In 42 career games, he racked up 145 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks. He helped lead the Green Wave to a win in the 2002 Hawaii Bowl. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Tulane in 2008.
