New LSU coach Lane Kiffin is retaining defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who interviewed this week for the head coaching vacancies at Tulane and Memphis.

Kiffin made the announcement Friday night on X, posting that Baker "is going nowhere."

Baker, 43, who is in his second season leading the defense for the Tigers (7-5), is one of the nation's highest-paid assistant coaches with a salary of $2.5 million. He is expected to receive a new contract and a raise, per ESPN.

LSU is ranked 15th in the nation in scoring defense (18.3 points per game) and 25th in total defense (319.7 yards per game) this season.

Baker played linebacker at Tulane (2000-04) and previously worked as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech (2015-18), Miami (2019-20) and Missouri (2022-23).

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