Football
Baer, Kent
Kent Baer
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Coaching veteran Kent Baer returned to Missoula in 2025 for his first year as Montana’s senior analyst. Prior to that he led Montana’s defense for five seasons between 2018 and 2022 as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.
During his first tenure at UM he mentored some of the best defenses in program history. In that time his units gave up just one touchdown or less in 11 games, helped the Griz advance to the playoffs three times in four full seasons, and led the league in sacks for two-straight seasons. He also helped engineer Montnana’s historic win over No. 20 Washington in Seattle.
Baer also helped mentor 2019 Buck Buchanan Award winner Dante Olson, 2022 Buchanan Award finalists Patrick O'Connell and Justin Ford (also the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year), 48 different All-American picks, and six first-team All-Big Sky honorees.
A two-time nominee and a 2002 finalist for the Frank Broyles award for the nation's top assistant, Baer came to Montana from UNLV with nearly 45 years of coaching experience at the highest levels of college football.
Baer is a native of Logan, Utah, and a member of the Utah State Hall of Fame - inducted in 2017 alongside former Griz basketball coach Stew Morrill.
He has had served as the defensive coordinator for nine different FBS programs and returns to the FCS/DI-AA ranks for the first time since 1986 when he was the defensive coordinator at Idaho.
Baer has coached in nine bowl games during his career, as well as the DI-AA playoffs in his lone year with the Vandals. In three of those bowl seasons his teams finished the year ranked in the Associated Press Top 25: California (16, 1991), Notre Dame (17, 2002) and San Jose State (21, 2012).
Known for an emphasis in stopping the run, Baer has produced several of the nation's top defenses.
As the defensive coordinator at Arizona State in 1992, Baer's Sun Devil defense ranked No. 7 nationally in total defense, allowing less than 269 yards per game and four yards per play.
In 2002 at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense, No. 10 in pass efficiency defense and rush defense, and No. 13 in total defense, allowing just five rushing touchdowns all year. He was recognized that season as one of five Broyles Award finalists.
During San Jose State's improbable 11-2 season in 2012, the Spartans finished with the No. 24 best overall defense in the nation and the No. 19 rush defense, allowing less than 345 yards per game and finishing the year ranked in the top five in seven different categories en route to a Military Bowl victory over Bowling Green and. He was also nominated for the Broyles Award that season and served as SJSU's interim head coach after Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado.
He has coached under several of the greatest head coaches in college football, including Bruce Snyder (Utah State, Cal, Arizona State), Keith Gilbertson (Idaho), Tyrone Willingham (Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington), and Dick Tomey (San Jose State). He also coached under MacIntyre, the 2016 Pac-12 and AP Coach of the Year, at SJSU and CU.
Snyder gave Baer his first college coaching job in 1977, coaching Utah State's outside linebackers for six seasons before being named defensive coordinator in 1983. After one season at Idaho, he rejoined Snyder at Cal where he served as the Golden Bears' DC for five seasons (1987-91).
He then followed Snyder to Arizona State until 1994 when he was hired by Willingham at Stanford to coach the linebackers. He then orchestrated Willingham's defenses for nine-straight seasons, stating in Palo Alto (1999-2001), followed by stints at Notre Dame (2002-04) and Washington (2005-07).
In 2008, he joined Dick Tomey's staff at San Jose State as linebacker coach, and when MacIntyre took over the program in 2010, Baer stayed on as defensive coordinator.
Baer was a standout linebacker for the at Utah State. A three-time letterman, he led the team in tackles as a senior with 114 during the Aggie's 8-3 season. He graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Recreation.
After graduating, he moved to Japan where he was the head football coach for Yokosuka Seahawks from 1973-76 (a member of a service league featuring military bases). He was the director of athletics and recreation for the commander of naval forces there before returning to Utah State.
He graduated from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He has three adult sons, Brian, Aaron James (A.J.) and Steven. His son A.J. coached alongside him at both San Jose State and Colorado, serving as the director of recruiting.
The Baer File:
Hometown: Logan, Utah
Alma Mater: Utah State ’73 – Physical Education and Recreation
Playing Experience: Utah State, 1969-1972 – Linebacker
Family: Sons Brian, Aaron James (A.J.), Steven.
Coaching Experience
Bowl Games/Postseason (season, not year of bowl game)
*= Interim Head Coach
NOTEABLE PLAYERS COACHED: Patrick Allen, CB; Eddie Cade, DB; Shante Carver, LB; Justin Cole, LB; Chris Draft, LB; Hal Garner, LB; Dashon Goldson, DB; Mike Hamby, DT; Jon Haskins, LB; Steve Hendrickson, LB; Willie Howard, DL; Riall Johnson, LB; Paul Lavine, DB; Craig Newsome, DB; Derrick Rodgers, LB; Aaron Smith, LB; Al Smith, LB; Derek Smith, LB; Shawn Swayda, DT; Pat Tillman, LB; Justin Tuck, DE; Scott Von der Ahe, LB; Brett Wallerstedt, LB; Courtney Watson, LB; Jerrott Willard, LB; Tank Williams, LB; Coy Wire, LB; Keith Smith, LB; Dante Olson, LB; Braxton Hill, LB
NFL Players/Draft Picks: 29
During his first tenure at UM he mentored some of the best defenses in program history. In that time his units gave up just one touchdown or less in 11 games, helped the Griz advance to the playoffs three times in four full seasons, and led the league in sacks for two-straight seasons. He also helped engineer Montnana’s historic win over No. 20 Washington in Seattle.
Baer also helped mentor 2019 Buck Buchanan Award winner Dante Olson, 2022 Buchanan Award finalists Patrick O'Connell and Justin Ford (also the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year), 48 different All-American picks, and six first-team All-Big Sky honorees.
A two-time nominee and a 2002 finalist for the Frank Broyles award for the nation's top assistant, Baer came to Montana from UNLV with nearly 45 years of coaching experience at the highest levels of college football.
Baer is a native of Logan, Utah, and a member of the Utah State Hall of Fame - inducted in 2017 alongside former Griz basketball coach Stew Morrill.
He has had served as the defensive coordinator for nine different FBS programs and returns to the FCS/DI-AA ranks for the first time since 1986 when he was the defensive coordinator at Idaho.
Baer has coached in nine bowl games during his career, as well as the DI-AA playoffs in his lone year with the Vandals. In three of those bowl seasons his teams finished the year ranked in the Associated Press Top 25: California (16, 1991), Notre Dame (17, 2002) and San Jose State (21, 2012).
Known for an emphasis in stopping the run, Baer has produced several of the nation's top defenses.
As the defensive coordinator at Arizona State in 1992, Baer's Sun Devil defense ranked No. 7 nationally in total defense, allowing less than 269 yards per game and four yards per play.
In 2002 at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense, No. 10 in pass efficiency defense and rush defense, and No. 13 in total defense, allowing just five rushing touchdowns all year. He was recognized that season as one of five Broyles Award finalists.
During San Jose State's improbable 11-2 season in 2012, the Spartans finished with the No. 24 best overall defense in the nation and the No. 19 rush defense, allowing less than 345 yards per game and finishing the year ranked in the top five in seven different categories en route to a Military Bowl victory over Bowling Green and. He was also nominated for the Broyles Award that season and served as SJSU's interim head coach after Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado.
He has coached under several of the greatest head coaches in college football, including Bruce Snyder (Utah State, Cal, Arizona State), Keith Gilbertson (Idaho), Tyrone Willingham (Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington), and Dick Tomey (San Jose State). He also coached under MacIntyre, the 2016 Pac-12 and AP Coach of the Year, at SJSU and CU.
Snyder gave Baer his first college coaching job in 1977, coaching Utah State's outside linebackers for six seasons before being named defensive coordinator in 1983. After one season at Idaho, he rejoined Snyder at Cal where he served as the Golden Bears' DC for five seasons (1987-91).
He then followed Snyder to Arizona State until 1994 when he was hired by Willingham at Stanford to coach the linebackers. He then orchestrated Willingham's defenses for nine-straight seasons, stating in Palo Alto (1999-2001), followed by stints at Notre Dame (2002-04) and Washington (2005-07).
In 2008, he joined Dick Tomey's staff at San Jose State as linebacker coach, and when MacIntyre took over the program in 2010, Baer stayed on as defensive coordinator.
Baer was a standout linebacker for the at Utah State. A three-time letterman, he led the team in tackles as a senior with 114 during the Aggie's 8-3 season. He graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Recreation.
After graduating, he moved to Japan where he was the head football coach for Yokosuka Seahawks from 1973-76 (a member of a service league featuring military bases). He was the director of athletics and recreation for the commander of naval forces there before returning to Utah State.
He graduated from Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. He has three adult sons, Brian, Aaron James (A.J.) and Steven. His son A.J. coached alongside him at both San Jose State and Colorado, serving as the director of recruiting.
The Baer File:
Hometown: Logan, Utah
Alma Mater: Utah State ’73 – Physical Education and Recreation
Playing Experience: Utah State, 1969-1972 – Linebacker
Family: Sons Brian, Aaron James (A.J.), Steven.
Coaching Experience
| 1973-76 | Yokosuka Seahawks (HC) |
| 1977-82 | Utah State (OLB) |
| 1983-85 | Utah State (DC/DB) |
| 1986 | Idaho (DC) |
| 1987-91 | California (DC) |
| 1992-94 | Arizona State (DC) |
| 1995-98 | Stanford (LB) |
| 1999-2001 | Stanford (DC) |
| 2002-04 | Notre Dame (DC) |
| 2004 | Notre Dame (interim HC) |
| 2005-07 | Washington (DC) |
| 2008-09 | San Jose State (LB) |
| 2010-12 | San Jose State (DC/LB) |
| 2012 | San Jose State (interim HC) |
| 2013-14 | Colorado (DC) |
| 2015-17 | UNLV (DC/LB) |
| 2018-23 | Montana (DC) |
| 2025-Present | Montana (Sr. Analyst) |
Bowl Games/Postseason (season, not year of bowl game)
| 1986 | DI-AA Playoffs |
| 1990 | Copper Bowl |
| 1991 | Citrus Bowl |
| 1995 | Liberty Bowl |
| 1996 | Sun Bowl |
| 2000 | Rose Bowl |
| 2001 | Seattle Bowl |
| 2003 | Gator Bowl |
| 2004 | Insight Bowl* |
| 2012 | Military Bowl* |
| 2019 | FCS QF |
| 2021 | FCS QF |
| 2022 | FCS 2nd Rd. |
NOTEABLE PLAYERS COACHED: Patrick Allen, CB; Eddie Cade, DB; Shante Carver, LB; Justin Cole, LB; Chris Draft, LB; Hal Garner, LB; Dashon Goldson, DB; Mike Hamby, DT; Jon Haskins, LB; Steve Hendrickson, LB; Willie Howard, DL; Riall Johnson, LB; Paul Lavine, DB; Craig Newsome, DB; Derrick Rodgers, LB; Aaron Smith, LB; Al Smith, LB; Derek Smith, LB; Shawn Swayda, DT; Pat Tillman, LB; Justin Tuck, DE; Scott Von der Ahe, LB; Brett Wallerstedt, LB; Courtney Watson, LB; Jerrott Willard, LB; Tank Williams, LB; Coy Wire, LB; Keith Smith, LB; Dante Olson, LB; Braxton Hill, LB
NFL Players/Draft Picks: 29
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