Kevin Baker is new UT Tyler women’s hoops coach

Published 9:13 pm Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kevin Baker’s coaching career has nearly come full circle, and he couldn’t be happier.

A former Palestine and Nacogdoches girls’ head basketball coach who turned around those programs, the Lufkin native has been the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for Division II West Texas A&M the past five years. He helped the Lady Buffs win three Lone Star Conference championships and make the NCAA Tournament four times, reaching as far as the Elite 8 in 20009.

Now he’s returning to East Texas as the new head women’s basketball coach for UT Tyler.

He was officially introduced at a Monday afternoon news conference in a media tent set up next to the Tyler Regional softball game between the Patriots and Pacific Lutheran.

“There are certain jobs in women’s basketball that you covet and hope someday to put yourself in position to get,” said Baker, who added he would keep his comments brief for those anxious to return back to the game. “This university sells itself. I tell people all the time that this university: our facilities, our University of Texas system degree; those who want to be a part of that, we would love to have you.”

Dr. Howard Patterson, vice president for auxiliary services and intercollegiate athletics, made the announcement and believes UT Tyler has the perfect coach.

“We are extremely excited about the future of UT Tyler women’s basketball under coach Baker,” Patterson said. “Out of a very deep pool of qualified applicants, we felt Kevin had the ideal combination of winning track record, basketball knowledge and experience, and recruiting ability, all with an emphasis on the academic success of his players, to bring UT Tyler women’s basketball to national prominence.”

Prior to joining West Texas A&M’s staff in 2007, Baker enjoyed successful head coaching stints at the high school level with Commerce (1997-98), Palestine (1998-2000), Nacogdoches (2000-2003) and Copperas Cove (2003-2007), compiling a 222-101 (.687) in 10 years.

According to gobuffsgo.com, “Baker has been instrumental in helping guide the Lady Buffs to an overall record of (120-36).”

Just as important is Baker’s recruiting. As West Texas A&M’s recruiting coordinator, Baker signed nine All-Lone Star Conference players and one All-American, including four all-state players in 2011.

UT Tyler is coming off a 12-13 season and has not finished above .500 in three years. The Patriots were American Southwest Conference East Division Champions in 2008, but have failed to make the ASC Tournament the past three seasons.

Baker left no illusions to what it will take to get UT Tyler to the level he wants.

“The first thing you’ve got to do it recruit; that’s the No. 1 thing in college coaching,” Baker continued. “I tell people all the time, ‘You can’t just be a good basketball coach, you’ve got to be a good recruiter.’ Fortunate for us, we’ve got a great facility and a great town; all the things necessary to bring the recruits in.”

Baker said recruiting is more than just getting players into UT Tyler; it’s recruiting the right players.

“We’ve got to knock on the right doors. We can’t just recruit to recruit,” Baker said. “We are looking for the kind of kids who can play basketball the way we want them to play and academically speaking, we’ve got to get that kind of kid too.

“I would like to focus on just Texas, but nothing is off limits. We’ll go wherever we have to get the right kid.”

UT Tyler is a Division III school, which means it does not offer athletic scholarships to its athletes. Baker said that means UT Tyler’s success and other attributes are key.

“There are some places that can offer you a scholarship, but maybe not the opportunity to win a championship, and that’s what I am going to try and sell here,” Baker said. “Thank goodness the people at UT Tyler saw something in me that they are going to let me come here and coach for a while.

“I’ll be here as long as they let me coach here and I don’t really want to be anywhere else. This is the perfect fit for me and I am hoping that I am the perfect fit for them.”

Baker earned two degrees from Stephen F. Austin State, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology in 1994 before continuing to earn his master’s in 1996.

He becomes the third coach for the UT Tyler women’s basketball program, taking over for Stasha Richards who resigned in April.