Clay Baker is shown during a Sept. 13 game between Henderson and Jacksonville at the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville. Baker leaving Henderson to return to Carlisle. (Audrey Blaschke/The Henderson News)

HENDERSON — After two years at Henderson ISD, Head Football Coach Clay Baker has resigned his position and will be returning to Carlisle ISD as their athletic director/head football coach beginning on Dec. 16.

Baker turned in his resignation on Monday. Before joining Henderson in February 2023, Baker had been the head coach at Carlisle for five years, compiling a 43-17 record there and reaching the playoffs each of those seasons. For nine years before that he was the offensive coordinator at Carlisle. He was also a 2004 graduate of Henderson High School.

The Henderson football program went 1-9 the season before Baker took over. In the 2023 season the Lions went 2-8, and this last season they went 6-4, just missing the playoffs. One of those memorable wins included a close rivalry victory over Kilgore.

“It was a personal decision that involved me and my family. I enjoyed my time in Henderson and wish the kids there nothing but the best. Your goal is to always leave a place better than you found it and I hope that I have done that,” said Baker. “I am excited about returning back to Carlisle and going to work. I loved my time out there and felt nothing but support from the community, the administration, and the student-athletes. I look forward to getting to work and continuing to build on the winning tradition that has been set there.”

“We are really sad to see him go,” said Henderson Athletic Coordinator Clay Freeman. “He did great things in the two years he was here. Our football program has taken great steps under him… A quote doesn’t do it justice. I am sad to lose him as our coach, but I am sad to see a friend move and not get to work with him everyday.”

Carlisle’s former AD/HFC Connor Sharp departs the program after two seasons. The Carlisle Indians were 1-9 this past season and 4-7 in 2023.

The open Henderson head football coach position is expected to be an attractive one with the program’s recent turnaround and plenty of promising young talent coming up from the junior high school. During the 2023 hiring process, there were 122 applicants for the job.