Who will Mizzou football hire to replace Blake Baker as defensive coordinator?

Amid a historic stretch of Missouri momentum came a swift and stern reminder.

College football will never make it simple.

Mizzou football is faced with a vital decision for its 2024 campaign: how to replace outgoing defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who on Friday accepted the same role at LSU.

The two-year MU play-caller had been a success story, taking Mizzou from outside of the top-100 in the FBS in total defense to a top-35 outfit in both of his seasons as coordinator.

Will MU head coach Eli Drinkwitz look inward for his fourth defensive coordinator as he heads into his fifth season, or will he look elsewhere?

Missouri, rightfully, has playoff aspirations in 2024, when the field is set to expand to 12 teams.

First, the Tigers have to get this decision right.

Here are seven candidates who could potentially catch Missouri’s eye:

D.J. Smith, Missouri Co-DC

One year ago, the Tigers added ‘co-defensive coordinator’ to linebackers coach D.J. Smith’s title.

There’s a chance “co-” comes off now.

The one question remaining will be if Missouri wants to hand the ropes over to somebody who hasn’t yet donned the headset and run the show.

The Tigers are likely to hang on to the rest of their defensive staff. With Baker gone, they’ll need to find somebody to coach the safeties, but that’s where the buck should stop. By promoting Smith from within, they’d keep a semblance of consistency — somebody who knows the MU playbook and the players carrying it through.

Consistency could go a long way, especially with eight defensive players having declared for the NFL Draft.

Jim Leonhard, Illinois defensive assistant

The former Wisconsin defensive coordinator should be available.

The Tigers reportedly were prepared to make Baker one of the five highest-paid assistants in the sport. Jim Leonhard, currently an analyst at Illinois, likely won’t command that high a number and could bring the play-calling experience that would suit MU’s aspirations.

He spent five seasons calling plays for the Badgers before becoming their interim coach to close out 2022, going 4-3 before Luke Fickell was hired. A Wisconsin grad, Leonhard spent nine seasons in the NFL before turning to coaching.

Wisconsin ranked No. 11 in the FBS for total defense in his final season in Madison, and held the No. 1 rank in 2021, holding opponents to 239.7 yards per game.

Zach Arnett, available

If the Tigers want to go bold …

Zach Arnett was Mike Leach’s defensive coordinator at Mississippi State before succeeding the late coach in 2023.

He has SEC experience, which would suit Missouri. And he has play-calling experience, too.

Arnett is likely to come with a high price tag, but after going 4-6 before being fired by the Bulldogs, there’s a good chance he’s looking to get back into the game with a play-calling role.

Missouri has one of the more enticing openings, if that’s the case. Last season aside, Arnett would be an eye-opening hire.

Spence Nowinski, Ohio DC

If you tuned in to some MAC football or the Myrtle Beach Bowl, you’ll know the Bobcats’ defense was stingy.

Ohio, under Spence Nowinski in his second year as play-caller, allowed just five of 13 opponents to score more than 20 points. The Bobcats held the same amount to 10 points or fewer.

Overall, Nowinski’s unit ranked No. 4 in the FBS for total defense, allowing just 273.5 yards per game. Only Big Ten defenses Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State outperformed Ohio.

Nowinski’s team ended the 2023 season with 96 tackles for loss and 36 sacks, so if there’s any worry about a style change, Missouri could sleep easy knowing this coordinator also likes to bring pressure.

Jimmy Rodgers, South Dakota St. HC

Step away from the FBS for a second, and take a look at the national-title contenders in the FCS.

Head coach Jimmy Rodgers’ Jackrabbits squared off against Montana State in Sunday’s FCS title game. He took over the program at the beginning of the 2023 season, after calling the defensive plays the year before.

South Dakota State went 14-0 en route to the title game. In 2022, the Jackrabbits ranked third in FBS, allowing just 15.8 points per game. Rodgers’ defense came up with 18 interceptions and allowed just 88.1 rushing yards per game — both marks were tops in FCS.

Rodgers will likely be eyed for some head-coaching gigs. But managing a Power Five defense with playoff aspirations might be enticing.

Ted Roof, available

This might not be a popular name, but it is an option.

Roof was Eli Drinkwitz’s defensive coordinator at Appalachian State in 2019, when the Mountaineers won the Sun Belt title. The two were also on the same staff during Auburn’s national-title run in 2010.

The defensive play-caller was just fired by Oklahoma coach Brett Venables. But Drinkwitz’s staff — including the outgoing Baker — features connections to stops and staffs of his past.

App State held eight of 14 opponents to 20 points or fewer during the season Drinkwitz and Rodgers worked together in Boone, North Carolina. Of course, OU had the nation’s 78th-ranked defense this season.

Kevin Coyle, Fresno State DC

Maybe the Tigers turn to their other coordinator’s old colleague — Fresno State defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, who was on a staff with current MU offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford stepped away from the Bulldogs’ bowl game due to health concerns, which means it might not be too far-fetched that a new head coach is coming to Fresno State.

If that happens, Coyle could be looking for a new gig.

He was on LSU’s most recent national championship-winning staff as a defensive analyst, giving him SEC experience, and he has 45 years of coaching know-how, including in the NFL as the Miami Dolphins’ DC.

Fresno State finished the season with FBS’ 56th-ranked defense but was No. 20 in turnovers — plus 23.

The Star has partnered with the Columbia Daily Tribune for coverage of Missouri Tigers athletics.

This story was originally published January 7, 2024 at 2:33 PM.