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COLUMBIA, Mo. 鈥� There goes the defensive coordinator.

Just a couple weeks after signing a contract extension and a week removed from a Cotton Bowl win, Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker has left the program to occupy the same role at Louisiana State 鈥� not long after signing a contract extension with MU.

The timing of Baker鈥檚 move is surprising, coming so closely on the heels of his extension 鈥� and after he turned down other potential jobs earlier in the coaching carousel cycle to remain at Mizzou.

鈥淎 lot of it, honestly, has to do with my happiness and my family鈥檚 happiness in Columbia,鈥� Baker told reporters last week, ahead of the Cotton Bowl. 鈥淭here were some possible other opportunities out there, but Coach (Eli Drinkwitz) is a phenomenal guy to work for. He鈥檚 first class in everything that he does. And really, I feel like we have unfinished business still here at Missouri. All in all, I never really considered going anywhere else. To me, it was 鈥� I said the same thing last year when I signed the (first) contract extension: It was a no-brainer.鈥�

Baker鈥檚 new three-year deal with Mizzou would have paid him a salary of $1.9 million for 2024, with raises to $2 million and $2.1 million in the second and third years of the agreement, per a source familiar with negotiations.

Only nine college football assistant coaches 鈥� including LSU鈥檚 fired defensive coordinator 鈥� were paid $1.9 million or more during the 2023 season, per USA Today鈥檚 database of assistants鈥� salaries. Baker鈥檚 previous salary was $1.1 million.

Under the terms of his new contract, Baker will have to pay MU a buyout of $950,000 because he is taking another college coordinator job.

While his new salary at LSU hasn鈥檛 been confirmed, Missouri was willing to further raise Baker鈥檚 salary from $1.9 million to compete with the LSU鈥檚 offers of more than $2 million 鈥� suggesting Baker鈥檚 decision was not motivated by money. that Baker鈥檚 three-year deal in Baton Rouge will be worth $2.5 million per year, which will make him the highest-paid assistant in all of college football.

Baker coached LSU鈥檚 linebackers during the 2021 season, before he landed in Columbia. When LSU coach Brian Kelly dismissed his entire defensive staff following an offensively excellent but defensively subpar 2023 season, Baker鈥檚 name quickly circulated as a top pick for the job.

After overhauling the defense into one of the Southeastern Conference鈥檚 most-improved units in 2022, MU rewarded Baker with his first raise, which preceded this year鈥檚 extension.

Baker鈥檚 departure shakes up a coaching staff that guided Missouri to an 11-win season and Cotton Bowl victory over No. 7 Ohio State.

Linebackers coach DJ Smith is the second-in-command for the Tigers鈥� defense, carrying the titles of co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Smith followed Drinkwitz to Missouri from Appalachian State, and could be in the running for an expanded role. He became co-defensive coordinator shortly after Baker鈥檚 hire.

Mizzou is losing several key defensive contributors to the NFL. The NCAA transfer portal closed Jan. 2, which will keep players from transferring because of Baker鈥檚 departure 鈥� at least for the near future. Another portal window opens for the latter half of April, after football programs鈥� spring practices.

Baker鈥檚 legacy at Mizzou includes the Cotton Bowl win, which kept Ohio State鈥檚 offense out of the red zone for the Buckeyes鈥� first time since a 2016 bowl game. He also played roles in developing players like safety Jaylon Carlies, who recently declared for the NFL Draft.

While he never played at LSU, Baker is connected to his new university, which is where his wife was an all-SEC soccer player. Baker left the Bayou Bengals when current LSU coach Brian Kelly did not retain the then-linebackers coach following the head coach鈥檚 2022 hiring.

Missouri players seemed surprised by Baker鈥檚 departure. 鈥淲ow bro,鈥� , formerly known as Twitter, with a broken heart emoji.

Drinkwitz and Baker were amicable in their social media farewells.

鈥淭hank you, Blake for all you did for Mizzou football,鈥� Drinkwitz wrote on X. 鈥淵our help in all we鈥檝e accomplished cannot be denied! I enjoyed every minute of our journey together 鈥� but it鈥檚 time for you to go on a new path. Godspeed! I wish you well!!鈥�

鈥淢y brother for life,鈥� Baker wrote in response. 鈥淕oing to miss you more than anything and so proud of what we were able to accomplish! Thank you for making me a better coach, father, and man. Mizzou football and CoMo are special and we will miss it dearly. M-I-Z!鈥�