Missouri Coordinators Kirby Moore, Blake Baker Earn Contract Extensions
The Missouri Tigers have been perhaps the most surprising team in all of college football this season, and accomplishing their best record since 2014 (10-2) is indicative of that.
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz and many players have been recognized with awards and honors that seem to come up every single day. However, offensive coordinator Kirby Moore and defensive coordinator Blake Baker are the most recent members of the program to earn their flowers, as they signed contract extensions on Thursday.
During Wednesday's post Early Signing Day press conference, Drinkwitz spoke about the incoming recruits, the current state of the team and also touched on his coordinators. When asked about Moore and Baker's futures in Columbia, Mo., Drinkwitz smiled and hinted that reporters should "stay to social media for the next 48 hours," as the news of their extensions will be released soon.
Moore was hired by Drinkwitz in January of 2023, following a 2022 season where the Tigers' offense averaged 369.8 yards per game, 11th in the SEC. Moore spent the 2022 season as Fresno State's offensive coordinator and became the first offensive coordinator that Drinkwitz has staffed at Missouri. Drinkwitz also forfeited play-calling duties to Moore which led to the Tigers averaging 442.9 yards per game, the 5th highest in the SEC.
Moore's offense included three members of the 2023 All-SEC Coaches First Team in running back Cody Schrader, wider receiver Luther Burden III and offensive tackle Javon Foster.
2023 was Baker's second season as Missouri's defensive coordinator. Baker was previously the linebackers coach in 2021 but was brought on to Missouri's staff in 2022 to be the Tigers' safety coach. Missouri defensive coordinator Steve Wilks accepted a job with the NFL's Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2022 season, allowing Baker to be promoted to the coordinator position.
Baker's unit included two members on the 2023 All-SEC Coaches First Team in defensive end Darius Robinson and corner back Kris Abrams-Draine.
