Mizzou officially hires new defensive coordinator
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Eli Drinkwitz has found Blake Baker's replacement. Mizzou Football announced on Saturday evening that Corey Batoon has officially been hired as the team's next defensive coordinator.
Saturday's announcement confirms Friday's report from ESPN that said the Tigers were set to give the defensive coordinator job to Batoon.
“Our intent from the start of this search was to identify a leader for our death row defense who has proven success as a coordinator, and equally as important, is aligned with the philosophy of our defense,” Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said in Saturday's press release. “Corey has been a part of championship-level teams at every stop along his path. He’s a veteran coach who’s battle-tested and has an ability to break things down and teach the game at a high level. I’m excited to see him bring those skills and experience to fit with our defensive approach.”
Batoon served as South Alabama's defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the past three seasons. During the 2023 season, Batoon's defense was ranked No. 15 in the nation in total defense, allowing just 313.2 yards per game to opposing offenses. Under Batoon's leadership, South Alabama posted 27 sacks, 84 tackles for loss and forced 22 total takeaways last season.
Batoon's coaching experience dates back to the 1991 college football season. He has served as an assistant for multiple programs, including Liberty, Hawai'i, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss, Arkansas State and more. He is also a two-time Broyles Award nominee, which honors the best assistant coach in college football.
“The energy, passion and plan that Coach Drinkwitz has is absolutely incredible. I am truly grateful to him for allowing me an opportunity to coordinate the Mizzou defense,” Corey Batoon said in the press release. “As coaches, we want to challenge ourselves among the best of the best, and Missouri is in that mix. Just watching them from afar this past season, you could tell the program has a specialness to it, and the upward trajectory is apparent. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the staff and players and get to work.”
Batoon's hire comes more than three weeks after former defensive coordinator Blake Baker accepted the same job at LSU, leaving Mizzou after signing a contract extension with the team just a few weeks prior.
Mizzou's new defensive coordinator is tasked with taking over a Tiger defense that finished the 2023 college football season ranked No. 3 in the SEC in sacks and tied for the conference lead in takeaways.
