Three LSU football assistants who need to be retained under next coach

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

LSU football’s coaching staff will look very different in 2026. LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly, marking the first move in a series of major changes. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was let go, too. As was athletic director Scott Woodward.

Whenever there’s this much change at the top, there’s sure to be change at the lower levels too.

Whoever LSU’s next head coach his will want to bring their own staff and make the program theirs. Kelly took that to an extreme, turning over the entire program. Autopsies of the Kelly era at LSU suggest he took it too far.

LSU wants to avoid that mistake again. The new coach will bring a handful of staff members, but expect some of LSU’s 2025 coaching staff to remain in place, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Here are three LSU football assistants who should be a part of the next coaching staff.

Blake Baker — Defensive Coordinator

Baker’s defense hasn’t been the problem this year. In year two as DC, Baker’s unit ranks No. 11 in SP+. That’s a dramatic improvement from where LSU was before Baker’s arrival. The defense made immediate strides last year and has been even better this year now that Baker has his personnel.

LSU has a lot of young talent on the defensive side of the ball. Freshman Dominick McKinley has a bright future at defensive tackle and corners DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland have All-SEC potential. If Baker remains in Baton Rouge, the defense won’t miss a beat. That would be a boon to a head coach taking over the program.

Baker is a sharp recruiter and is well-connected in the state of Louisiana. Retaining Baker will help hold LSU’s defensive recruiting class together, even if other defensive assistants leave.

Corey Raymond — Secondary Coach

Raymond was one of the coaches let go when Brian Kelly took over the program in 2021. LSU realized its mistake and brought Raymond back after the 2023 season. The results have been nothing short of stellar.

Transfer cornerback Mansoor Delane is one of the best in the country and a contender for SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Pickett and Woodland, mentioned above, have both made tremendous strides.

If Raymond is back, LSU may have the best corner duo in the SEC next year, even with Delane on his way to the NFL. Raymond’s recruiting prowess is unmatched and he develops talent. LSU has had to rebuild the secondary a few times in recent years — LSU can’t afford to hit the reset button again.

Frank Wilson — Interim Head Coach/Running Backs

When Kelly was fired, Wilson was the obvious candidate to take over as interim head coach. Wilson is an LSU veteran, now in his second stint at the university. Wilson worked under Les Miles from 2010-15 before leaving on his own accord to be a head coach. He was one of Kelly’s first hires after the head coach arrived in Baton Rouge.

It’s not rare to see an interim head coach retained when the new full-time coach takes over. If Wilson is back, he’ll play a key role in the transition and ensure the recruiting class sticks together.

There’s plenty of speculation about Lane Kiffin being LSU’s next coach. If that’s the case, Wilson and Kiffin have previous working experience as Wilson was on Kiffin’s Tennessee staff in 2009.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Three LSU football coaches need to be retained by new coach

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos