LSU has appointed Kevin Peoples, formerly the defensive line and edge rushers coach at Missouri, to a defensive assistant coaching position, as confirmed by a source to The Advocate. Peoples, who worked under LSU’s new defensive coordinator Blake Baker at Missouri for the past two seasons, was hired to the role after Baker assumed the position on January 5. ESPN was the first to report Peoples’ hiring.
During his tenure at Missouri, Peoples contributed to the success of the team’s defense, which ranked 25th in the nation under the leadership of Baker. The edge rushers, notably Darius Robinson and Johnny Walker Jr., played a significant role in the team’s strong performance, leading the nation in sacks.
Peoples, recognized as a Broyles Award semifinalist in 2023 (an award for the top assistant coach in the nation), played a pivotal role in the development of edge rusher Isaiah McGuire. McGuire, selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, achieved a career-high 7½ sacks in his lone season under Peoples’ guidance.
Before joining Missouri, Peoples served as the defensive line coach at Indiana for two seasons and spent four years in the same role at Tulane. His coaching experience also includes positions at Georgia Southern, UAB, Arkansas, and Arkansas State, primarily focusing on defensive line coaching.
LSU’s defensive coaching staff underwent significant changes, with Peoples becoming the third defensive assistant coach hired in the offseason, alongside Baker and former Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis. These changes followed the dismissal of several defensive assistants by head coach Brian Kelly after the RealiaQuest Bowl on January 1, including defensive coordinator Matt House, defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples, and safeties coach Kerry Cooks. The only retained defensive assistants were John Jancek and Bob Diaco. Jancek, who served as LSU’s defensive line coach during Lindsey’s absence, and Diaco, initially hired as a defensive analyst, assumed the roles of outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, respectively.
LSU had the No. 102 defense in the nation in 2023, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. The Tigers finished the year 82nd in the FBS in points allowed per game (28) and surrendered no less than 42 points in their three losses this season to Florida State (45), Ole Miss (55) and Alabama (42).