The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly interviewing Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt for their defensive coordinator position. Merritt, who has been with the Chiefs since 2019, has also worked with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals. In a previous interview, he expressed a reluctance to pursue a coordinator job while his children were young, but with his youngest now in high school, the timing may be right for him to take on a new opportunity.
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to interview former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant coach Mike Caldwell for their vacant defensive coordinator position, following his dismissal by the Jaguars after a late-season collapse. Caldwell, who also has an interview with the Raiders, previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Eagles under Doug Pederson and has a history with several NFL teams as both a player and coach.
LSU has appointed former Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker as their new defensive coordinator, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football with a $2.5 million annual salary. Baker, who has a history of leading strong defenses, is returning to LSU after a stint at Missouri where his defense performed well in the SEC. The move comes after LSU's recent defensive struggles, and Baker is expected to revitalize the team's defense. LSU is set to open the 2024 season against USC.
LSU has appointed Blake Baker as its new defensive coordinator after his successful tenure at Missouri, where he led the defense to an 11-2 season, including a Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State. Baker, who previously worked at LSU as a linebackers coach, is set to become the highest-paid assistant in the country. He will be responsible for revitalizing an LSU defense that struggled significantly in the 2023 season.
Blake Baker, who recently signed a contract extension with Missouri football, is leaving his role as the team's defensive coordinator to take the same position at LSU. Despite improving Missouri's defense significantly during his tenure, Baker's departure comes shortly after head coach Eli Drinkwitz's extension through 2028. LSU's head coach Brian Kelly, who previously fired Baker as the LSU linebackers coach, has now hired him as the nation's highest-paid assistant at $2.2 million per year. The move follows a successful season for Missouri, including a Cotton Bowl victory, and raises questions about the liquidated damages Baker owes due to his contract termination.
LSU has appointed Blake Baker as its new defensive coordinator, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in the nation with a three-year contract averaging $2.5 million annually. Baker, who previously improved Missouri's defense significantly during his tenure there, returns to LSU where he once coached linebackers. The hire follows a staff overhaul by head coach Brian Kelly after a season with a subpar defensive performance. Baker's challenge will be to revitalize an LSU defense that ranked poorly in total defense and scoring against Power Five competition.
The Oklahoma Sooners are set to hire Jacksonville State's Zac Alley as their new defensive coordinator, replacing Ted Roof. Alley, who has a history with Sooners' head coach Brent Venables from their time at Clemson, is highly regarded for his recent success with Jacksonville State's defense. Social media reactions are generally positive, highlighting Alley's mentorship under Venables, his impressive statistics at Jacksonville State, and the potential for him to continue Oklahoma's defensive prowess. The move is not yet official but is widely reported and supported by various sources.
Oklahoma is set to appoint Zac Alley, the former Jacksonville State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, as their new defensive coordinator. Alley, who at 29 was the youngest FBS coach at the time of his hiring, has a history with OU coach Brent Venables from their time at Clemson. This move follows the departure of Ted Roof, OU's previous defensive coordinator. Alley's defense at Jacksonville State was notably strong, ranking high nationally in several defensive categories.
Zac Alley, currently the defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State, is being closely watched as a potential candidate for the Oklahoma defensive coordinator position. Alley has a successful track record, including time at Clemson where he was part of a team that won two national championships. Under his guidance, Jacksonville State led the C-USA in total and rush defense. Oklahoma, having parted ways with Ted Roof, is looking to improve its defense, which showed progress in the 2023 season. Key defensive players from Oklahoma have announced their return for the next season, which could be a factor in the decision-making process.
The University of Oklahoma and defensive coordinator Ted Roof have mutually agreed to part ways after a two-year stint. Head coach Brent Venables offered Roof a different role on the staff, but Roof intends to continue his coaching career elsewhere. Despite improvements in the Sooners' defensive rankings from 2022 to 2023, the decision for a new direction has been made. The search for a new defensive coordinator is underway, following recent changes to the offensive coordinator position as well. Ted Roof, with a long history in coaching, remains passionate about the profession and plans to keep coaching as long as that passion persists.
University of Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables has announced that the school and defensive coordinator Ted Roof have mutually agreed to part ways. Roof, who joined the Sooners two seasons ago, was offered a different role on the staff but chose to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Despite improvements in the team's defensive statistics, Venables is seeking a new direction for the coordinator position and will begin the search for Roof's replacement immediately.
Aaron Glenn, the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator, has been voted the top defensive coordinator in the NFL by players in a survey conducted by the NFL Players Association. The survey, which included responses from over 1,700 players, also ranked Lions' special teams coordinator Dave Fipp as the fourth-best in his role. The NFLPA released these results to emphasize the positive impact of coaches and to ensure players' opinions are considered in the hiring cycle. Despite the Lions' defense having mixed results over the past seasons, Glenn's leadership has been a key factor in the team's improvement and recent success.
Wink Martindale, the New York Giants' defensive coordinator, expressed confidence in returning for the next season despite the team's poor defensive performance, ranking 28th in points and yards allowed. Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll had some noticeable sideline disagreements, but both have minimized their importance. Martindale acknowledges upcoming discussions about the team's future but sees no reason why he wouldn't be part of the Giants' 2024 plans.
Gene Chizik will not return as the defensive coordinator for the University of North Carolina in 2024, as announced by head coach Mack Brown. Despite improvements, the Tar Heels' defense remained in the lower tier nationally, and the team struggled in the latter part of the season. The decision to part ways was mutual, and senior defensive analyst Ted Monachino will replace Tim Cross as the defensive line coach. Chizik is known for his previous head coaching tenure at Auburn, where he won a national championship in 2010.
The University of North Carolina has announced a shakeup in its football coaching staff, with defensive coordinator Gene Chizik and defensive line coach Tim Cross leaving the program. Despite improvements, the Tar Heels' defense struggled, prompting head coach Mack Brown to make changes. Ted Monachino will step up as the new defensive line coach, bringing extensive NFL and collegiate experience to the role. The search for a new defensive coordinator is underway, marking the third coordinator under Brown's current tenure.
