May 4, 2007

CANYON, Texas - After spending the last 10 years as a head women's basketball coach during several coaching stops in Central and East Texas, Kevin Baker is making the jump to the collegiate level accepting the position of assistant coach with the Lady Buff basketball program.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the proud winning tradition of Lady Buff basketball," said Baker. "Its also a big thrill for me to get to work with Coach Gerlich who has impressed me with her character and her commitment to winning."

Baker joins WTAMU after several stints as a head coach at the high school level producing a 222-101 (.687) record in 10 seasons at the prep level. Most recently, Baker was at the helm of the Copperas Cove High School girls program where he compiled an impressive 103-35 (.746) record in four seasons at the helm of the Lady Dawgs, including a 32-3 mark during his last season at the school in 2006-07 which saw the team make a Regional semifinal appearance.

Prior to his time at Copperas Cove, Baker spent three seasons at Nacagdoches High School where he took a 5-22 team during his first season to a 30-4 district championship squad just three years later, netting him District 12-4A Coach of the Year honors. From 1998-2000, Baker served as the head women's basketball coach and Girls Athletics Director at Palastine High School in Palistine Texas.

Baker got his first head coaching position in 1997-98, taking the reigns of the Commerce High School girls program for one season after spending time as an assistant coach at Princeton High School and Hudson High School.

"I'm so excited about having Kevin Baker as part of our program," said WTAMU head women's basketball coach Krista Gerlich. "His success in coaching speaks for itself and his enthusiasm about the game is contagious. Kevin's contacts in the metroplex and central Texas will add to our recruiting base plus his energy and work ethic will make him a perfect fit for our program. Kevin has a winning background and attitude and he will do whatever necessary to help our team reach new heights."

Baker holds two degrees from Stephen F. Austin University, receiving his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 1994 before return to the school to earn his master's in 1996.