Report: Tennessee targeting current LSU assistant for defensive coordinator position

In 2020, Blake Baker was the defensive coordinator for Miami, but then he left to take the LB coach job at LSU earlier this offseason.

Now, it seems Baker could be in the mix to return to the rank of “coordinator” as he’s reportedly in the mix for the open Tennessee defensive coordinator position.

Per Tennessee insider Jimmy Hyams, Baker has been offered the job under first-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel:

Source: Tennessee has offered the defensive coordinator job to Brian Baker, who had been at Miami

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) February 10, 2021

Correction: Blake Baker is the DC candidate at Tennessee

— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) February 10, 2021

So, would this be a popular hire on Rocky Top? Well, don’t count on it. As our Michael Bratton tweeted, Miami coach Manny Diaz was planning to take Baker’s play-calling duties away before Baker left for LSU:

Manny Diaz was planning to take the defensive play calling duties away from Blake Baker next season.

Baker then left Miami to become the new LSU linebackers coach. https://t.co/aGQzs64i5s

— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 10, 2021

Nothing is official yet, of course, so we’ll see what happens as Heupel’s search for a defensive coordinator drags on.