Miami Dolphins assistant defensive line coach Kenny Baker is set to become the next defensive line coach at Texas, sources confirmed to FootballScoop on Thursday. The news was first reported by 247Sports.
Baker replaces Bo Davis, who took the defensive line job at his alma mater LSU earlier this month.
The 2023 campaign was Baker's first (and only) in Miami. He spent the previous three seasons at Western Kentucky, first joining as defensive ends coach before taking over the entire D-line for the 2021 and '22 seasons.
In 2021, Baker helped WKU end DeAngelo Malone win the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and become a third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons.
Prior to WKU, Baker spent 2019 as the defensive line coach at Chattanooga, where two Mocs earned All-SoCon honors and a third was named a Sophomore All-American. He spent 2014-18 as the defensive line coach at Mercer.
Baker played at Gardner-Webb from 2005-08 and started coaching in his native Georgia's high school ranks.
At Texas, Baker will be charged with replacing the best defensive tackle tandem in college football. T'Vondre Sweat won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman (offense or defense) and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award while Byron Murphy, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, may be drafted higher this spring.
Baker is the second straight position coach Steve Sarkisian has pulled from the NFL. Chris Jackson had just completed his first season as the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers coach before taking the wide receivers/passing game coordinator job in Austin.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.