Why new LSU football assistant should be an instant fan favorite

LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron will have a much different looking coaching staff in 2021 than he had in 2020.

The Tigers lost five assistants from their 2020 team — two on the offensive side of the ball and three on the defensive side of the ball.

Last month, LSU introduced offensive coordinator Jake Peetz and passing game coordinator DJ Mangas as new staff members.

On Tuesday, the Tigers introduced the new additions to the defensive staff — defensive coordinator/safeties coach Daronte Jones, defensive line coach Andre Carter, and linebackers coach Blake Baker.

One of those assistants should already be a fan favorite in Baton Rouge for something he said on Tuesday.

LSU football adds former Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator to staff

Blake Baker served as the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator for the last two seasons. He could’ve returned to that role in 2021. Instead, he opted to leave the U to take a job as a position coach at LSU.

It’s not often that you see a coordinator voluntarily leave a Power-5 program to become a position coach at another Power-5 program.

But LSU isn’t just any Power-5 program. It’s a special place. And that’s why Baker left Miami.

The recently-hired Tigers linebackers coach told reporters on Tuesday that LSU is the only place he would’ve left Miami for (via Brooks Kubena).

Baker, who lost his play-calling duties at Miami, made it clear that he “absolutely” could’ve returned to the Hurricanes’ staff next season.

The Houston native has a strong connection to Louisiana. He played college football at Tulane, and he coached at Louisiana Tech for five seasons. It’s understandable why he’d want to return to the state.

Anyone that leaves a coordinator job behind so they can land at LSU deserves some love from the fans. The Tigers are lucky to have Baker on staff — it’s obvious he’s going to attack the job with passion.