Tag: Robert Steeples

LSU reportedly finalizing a deal to bring Corey Raymond back on staff

Corey Raymond was a longtime assistant under both Les Miles and Ed Orgeron.

LSU may be close to completing its staff with a familiar face.

The Tigers are finalizing a deal to bring [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] back to coach the secondary, according to On3’s Shea Dixon. A Louisiana native and LSU assistant from 2006-08 and again from 2012-21, Raymond was the architect and primary recruiter who helped stake the Tigers’ “DBU” claim.

He was not retained on coach Brian Kelly’s new staff in 2022, instead taking the same role at Florida, where he coached cornerbacks in 2022 and all defensive backs this past season but was fired following a 5-7 finish.

LSU has already hired three staffers to replace those who were fired following the bowl game, including two assistants to work with the defensive line.

Coaching the secondary had previously been a two-man gig between [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], but with only one spot remaining on the on-field staff, Raymond would likely coach corners and safeties if he ultimately returns to Baton Rouge.

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Report: LSU hiring Missouri DL coach Kevin Peoples as an assistant coach

Kevin Peoples worked with new LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker at Missouri over the last two seasons.

LSU has already hired Texas defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag], but it isn’t done shoring up its front on defense.

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Tigers are also set to hire Missouri defensive line coach [autotag]Kevin Peoples[/autotag] to the staff. Peoples spent the last two seasons at Mizzou coaching edge rushers specifically and working with [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], who LSU recently hired as its new defensive coordinator.

Peoples has an extensive track record coaching the defensive line, serving in that role at Indiana, Tulane, Arkansas, UAB and Arkansas State, as well. Though it’s not clear exactly what role Peoples and Davis will occupy on the staff, it’s been speculated that Peoples will coach the edge while Davis will work with the interior.

LSU still has an opening for its secondary after it fired both cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag].

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BREAKING: LSU hires Blake Baker as next defensive coordinator

Blake Baker elevated Missouri’s defense from one of the nation’s worst to one of the best in his two years in Columbia.

LSU has found its defensive coordinator.

On Friday night, the team announced that it had poached [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] away from SEC foe Missouri. Baker has spent the last two seasons with the Tigers, elevating a defense that was one of the worst in the nation in 2021 to one of the best this past fall.

Before joining Eli Drinkwitz’s Missouri staff, he was on LSU’s staff under Ed Orgeron in 2021 as the linebackers coach. Baker has further ties to the state of Louisiana as he was the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech from 2015-18.

He was also the defensive coordinator at Miami from 2019-20.

“Excited to welcome Blake and his family back to Baton Rouge,” coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] wrote on Twitter. “Geaux Tigers!”

With the defensive coordinator hire now set, LSU will turn its attention to filling the vacant assistant coaching positions on the defensive side of the ball. Along with previous defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], LSU fired safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag].

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12 names that could be fits for LSU’s open defensive line coach job, including Texas’ Bo Davis

These coaches could become targets to replace Jimmy Lindsey in 2024.

After a massive staff shakeup on Wednesday, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is looking to fill nearly an entire defensive staff.

Early reports indicate that Missouri defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator role. Baker coached linebackers at LSU in 2021, and that’s the group he’d likely work with if he got the DC job.

That leaves LSU needing assistants for the secondary and defensive line after [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag], [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] were also let go.

LSU will need to fill the DC spot first, but here are some names that could potentially fit working with the defensive line.

Former LSU cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples releases statement after firing

Robert Steeples was fired Wednesday along with most of the defensive staff.

After a year of massively underperforming on defense, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] opted for an overhaul of the defensive staff on Wednesday.

LSU fired defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] as well as assistants [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag]. Steeples, who coached cornerbacks, released a statement thanking Kelly and the program for the opportunity.

Steeples started his statement by thanking [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], the Tigers’ defensive back who is currently battling brain cancer, as well as Kelly, the staff and the rest of the players.

“All in All, my definition of Love is the commitment to doing right by someone when they are with you and away from you,” Steeples said. “Thank you to those who showed love by doing right by me. Just know, I did right by you.”

A former NFL cornerback, Steeples was a high school head coach at De Smet Jesuit in his hometown of St. Louis from 2016-20. He later served as an assistant special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 before joining Kelly’s staff.

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5 names to watch for LSU’s defensive backs coach position

These five names would make a lot of sense as LSU’s next defensive backs coach.

After a massive staff shakeup on Wednesday, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is looking to fill nearly an entire defensive staff.

Early reports indicate that Missouri defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator role. Baker coached linebackers at LSU in 2021, and that’s the group he’d likely work with if he got the defensive coordinator job.

That leaves LSU needing assistants for the secondary and defensive line after [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] were also let go.

LSU will need to fill the defensive coordinator spot first, but here are some names that could potentially fit in the secondary.

Report: LSU has identified a leading candidate for defensive coordinator position

LSU may already be zeroing in on a candidate for its open defensive coordinator position.

LSU is now searching for coordinators on both sides of the ball after coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] fired most of the on-field defensive staff on Wednesday.

The Tigers parted ways with defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] as well as assistants [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag]. House’s unit took a major step back in 2023, finishing in the bottom half of the FBS by most metrics.

Kelly now faces a crucial hire heading into Year 3, and it seems he may have found his guy. Missouri defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] has already emerged as a leading candidate, according to Brandon Marcello and Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Baker orchestrated one of the better defenses in the SEC in 2023, ranking fourth in the league in yards per game while having the No. 6 scoring defense. That unit played a large part in an 11-win campaign for the Tigers that culminated in a Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State.

He has clear ties to the state of Louisiana, serving as LSU’s linebackers coach in 2021 under Ed Orgeron before spending the last two seasons in Columbia. Baker also was an assistant at Louisiana Tech from 2014-18, where he was the defensive coordinator his last four seasons.

Baker also served as the defensive coordinator at Miami from 2019-20, and he signed an extension with Missouri last month that made him one of the SEC’s highest-paid assistants.

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16 names to watch for LSU’s open defensive coordinator role

These 16 names could make a good fit for LSU’s next defensive playcaller.

After months of speculation, it finally happened.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that LSU defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], along with defensive assistants [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag], [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag], would not be retained.

Both coordinator positions are open now, but much of the spotlight will be directed at the defensive side given how bad that unit was in 2023.

Before House, Kelly had a good record of hiring DCs. Its a list that includes Mike Elko, Marcus Freeman and Clark Lea. All are now Power Five head coaches, and Elko and Lea are in the SEC.

The expectation should be for Kelly to make a hire closer to that than what we saw with House.

Here are 16 names Kelly should pursue.

Reactions as LSU fires defensive coordinator Matt House

To say LSU fans were relieved with the change would be an understatement.

Though it took longer than some expected, LSU coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] opted to make sweeping changes on the defensive side of the ball after that unit massively underachieved in 2023.

Defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] is out, as is almost the entire defensive staff. The Tigers parted ways with safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag], as well.

It was a move that didn’t come as a major surprise after that unit held the team back despite possessing one of the most prolific offenses in program history led by a Heisman Trophy winner.

To say LSU fans were relieved with the change would be an understatement. Here’s how the fanbase reacted.

BREAKING: LSU fires DC Matt House, multiple defensive assistants

After an abysmal showing in 2023, LSU is overhauling its defensive staff.

Following the conclusion of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on Monday, LSU made a slew of defensive staff changes on Wednesday.

Most notably, the Tigers fired defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] after two seasons in Baton Rouge. Alongside House, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], cornerbacks coach [autotag]Robert Steeples[/autotag] and defensive line coach [autotag]Jimmy Lindsey[/autotag] would not return in 2024.

It’s a full-on overhaul for a defensive staff whose unit underachieved this season. After putting together a solid group in 2022, the defense backslid tremendously in 2023.

The Tigers ranked 86th in points allowed and 110th in yards allowed while ranking in the bottom 15 nationally in opponent third-down percentage.

“I want to thank each of these coaches for their work on behalf of our football program and our institution during their time here,” Kelly said in a statement. “Decisions like these are always difficult, and we do not make them lightly, but they are made with the best interests of our program and student-athletes in mind.

“Moving forward, we will continue working to build a championship caliber coaching staff in support of our mission to Graduate Champions.”

House, Cooks and Steeples were a part of Kelly’s initial staff at LSU. House and Steeples came from the NFL ranks with House having prior SEC coordinating experience, while Cooks was an analyst at Notre Dame who followed Kelly to Baton Rouge.

Lindsey joined the staff ahead of this season after holding the same role at South Carolina, but he spent most of 2023 away from the team while dealing with a health issue.

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