Blake Baker, the defensive coordinator at Missouri, has been signed to a contract extension through 2025, the university announced on Thursday.

Baker came to Mizzou from LSU, where he coached linebackers in 2021. He spent 2 years as Miami’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach before that, with previous stops at Texas, Arkansas State, and Louisiana Tech. His coaching career began in 2009 as he coached wide receivers at Clear Springs High School in Texas.

The Tigers have held teams to 311.0 yards per game, 3rd in the SEC, with their 115.8 rushing yards allowed per game ranking 4th in the league. That’s a massive improvement from 2021, where they allowed the conference’s most rushing yards per outing and were 2nd-from-last in total yardage yielded per game.

“I am honored by the trust Coach Drinkwitz has placed in me and I look forward to continuing to contribute to making our team better. Make no mistake about it, this is a reflection of the hard work of our defensive staff and most importantly, our players,” Baker said in a statement. “We have a resilient group, and it doesn’t matter where the ball is put down, they step up and play hard. My family and I love Columbia and we look forward to the years ahead.”

Missouri is 4-4, 2-3 in conference play, and hosts Kentucky on Saturday.