Baker named UWA volleyball coach
By Staff
LIVINGSTON – The University of West Alabama Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Nathan Baker as the 13th head coach in Tiger volleyball history.
Baker, a native of Phil Campbell, comes to Livingston after serving as head volleyball coach at Tusculum College in Greenville, Tenn. from 2006-2007.
In two seasons as head coach at Tusculum, Baker compiled 48 wins against 20 losses, and the 23 Pioneer victories in 2006 were a 14-win improvement from the prior campaign. Tusculum finished fourth in the Southern Athletic Conference in 2006 with nine wins within the league, the most SAC wins for the program since joining the conference in 1998.
In 2007 the Pioneers surpassed their previous SAC win total with 11 victories in conference play. The Pioneers, led by Southern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Vivian Lacy and four other All-SAC selections, were ranked second in the nation last season in blocks per game and ninth in hitting percentage.
"Nathan Baker is an Alabama native and a proven winner in Division II volleyball," said E. J. Brophy, West Alabama director of athletics. "We are extremely excited to have him join the UWA family, and look forward to continuing our recent tradition of winning a lot of volleyball matches."
Baker also orchestrated a "Dig For the Cure" match in which all proceeds went to breast cancer research. Academically, a member of his team was named Southern Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and the Pioneers also received the 2005-06 Game Plan/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.
Prior to taking over at Tusculum, Baker served as an assistant coach at Division I Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. from 2003-06. At Campbell, he assisted with recruiting and travel and was the academic coordinator for the volleyball program. Campbell had a 12-win turnaround in 2004 and posted 14 wins in 2005 for the Atlantic Sun Conference-affiliated school.
"I am excited for this opportunity to become a part of the University of West Alabama family," Baker said. "Having the chance to coach in a conference like the GSC, will be a tough challenge, but with a strong returning class at UWA, we should be ready for the challenge. It's now time to work hard, and help continue that tradition that Ron Arenz built during his two years at UWA."
Baker began his collegiate coaching career at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangley, Colo. He started the volleyball program from scratch at CNCC in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, known as one of the toughest junior college leagues in the country. While at CNCC he also served as head softball coach, and the volleyball squad posted a team grade point average of 3.2 under the direction of Baker.
Baker also spent time on the sideline as a student assistant at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn., where he earned his bachelor's degree in Human Sciences.
Baker is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. He is also active with community service efforts along with the American Cancer Society, and is an advocate for youth volleyball.
He is married to the former Jessica McDougal of Pulaski, Tenn. The couple has two daughters, Emma and Morgan.
