Lane Kiffin arrived at LSU only days ago, but the transition has already brought a wave of uncertainty. Staff reshaping began the moment he stepped into Baton Rouge, and one of the biggest questions now centers on defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
What looked like a smooth carryover may turn into Kiffin’s first major setback. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Baker has surged to the front of Tulane’s head-coaching search. Multiple outlets have echoed the same momentum.
Local reporting from 104.5 ESPN has placed Baker at +200 to land the job, sitting at the top of the board ahead of Billy Napier (+300), Charles Huff (+400), Shannon Dawson (+500), and Tyson Helton (+600).
Blake Baker tops odds to become Tulane’s next head coach
Full Odds 👉 https://t.co/2EaOrb5mCS pic.twitter.com/C8ukBAp1wT
— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) December 3, 2025
The interest is strong, and the timing could not be tougher for LSU. Baker’s work rebuilding the Tigers’ defense made him one of the program’s most valuable holdovers, and losing him this early in Kiffin’s tenure would create an immediate void.
“Sources tell On3 that Kiffin continues to work to retain defensive coordinator Blake Baker. But sources have told On3 that Baker has emerged as a top name for the Tulane head coaching job,” Nakos REPORTED.
NEW: LSU’s Lane Kiffin is working to retain defensive coordinator Blake Baker, @PeteNakos reports.
But sources have told On3 that Baker has emerged as a top name for the Tulane head coaching job👀
Intel: https://t.co/3GO8TJP90N pic.twitter.com/lgZv4NUWi6
— On3 (@On3sports) December 4, 2025
Kiffin is already moving pieces around the staff. Several assistants from Ole Miss are expected to join him, while others from the previous LSU structure are unsure of their future. That includes a major front-office change.
LSU and general manager Austin Thomas have parted ways, opening another key position within days of Kiffin’s arrival. The transition is rapid, and the program is balancing excitement for a new era with sudden internal turbulence.
If Baker leaves, LSU will need a new voice to run the defense while simultaneously adjusting to new leadership across recruiting and personnel. It is a difficult way to open a tenure, especially for a coach still settling into the building.
Lane Kiffin Had a Scary Encounter While Leaving Oxford
The move from Ole Miss to LSU came with more than routine backlash. During his first media session in Baton Rouge on Monday, Kiffin shared that he faced a frightening moment while leaving Oxford.
He described a situation in which some upset or angry fans tried to push him off the road as he was headed toward the airport. The incident highlighted how charged the atmosphere became around his departure and added another layer to an already chaotic transition.
“I think that people get really upset when you leave somewhere because they feel hurt because you’re doing a really good job,” Kiffin SAID. “They ain’t going to the airport and driving from all over to say those things and yell those things and try to run you off the road if you were doing bad.”
Kiffin brushed it off as part of the job, but the encounter underscored the intensity of SEC fan culture and the hostility that can follow a high-profile exit.
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