STARKVILLE — A source confirmed Monday that Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen plans to hire longtime NFL coach Brian Baker as the team’s new defensive line coach.
The hire, which was first reported by Scout.com, is expected to be made official today or Wednesday.
Baker will take over for David Turner, who left for Texas A&M last week after being promoted to assistant head coach this offseason. Baker is the fourth defensive coach hired by Mullen this offseason after Manny Diaz, Deshea Townsend, and Tony Hughes all took other jobs. Peter Sirmon was hired as the new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Terrell Buckley was hired as the new cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator, and Maurice Linguist was hired as the new safeties coach.
Baker coached the outside linebackers for the NFL’s Washington Redskins in 2015. He wasn’t retained at the end of the season after Washington coach Jay Gruden hired a new defensive coordinator, Joe Barry. Baker didn’t work as a full-time coach last season.
The former Maryland linebacker was a student coach for the Terrapins in 1984 and a graduate assistant in 1985. After coaching at Army (1986) and Georgia Tech (1987-95), he started a 19-year run as a coach in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers in 1996. He also coached the Detroit Lions (1997-2000), Minnesota Vikings (2001-05), St. Louis Rams (2006-08), Carolina Panthers (2009-10), Dallas Cowboys (2011-12), and Cleveland Browns (2013). He spent 15 years as a defensive line coach with the Chargers, Vikings, Rams, Panthers, Cowboys, and Browns.
Among the players selected to the NFL Pro Bowl from Baker’s units throughout his career are Jay Ratliff, Julius Peppers, Kevin Williams, Robert Porcher, and Luther Elliss. He also contributed to the Pro Bowl selections of linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer while overseeing the pass rush with Dallas.
Wire reports were used in this story.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
