Baker started his college softball coaching career as a volunteer with Durham College halfway through the season in the fall of 2013. To gain more experience that same season, Baker travel south to Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. He was hired to develop an entire pitching staff of freshmen. In the fall of 2014, Baker was asked to join the Durham Lords coaching staff as the Pitching Coach. With his assistance, the Lords went on to win four OCAA consecutive championships from 2015-2018.
Under Baker’s guidance, Caitlyn Omelanchuk was named an OCAA All-Star, OCAA Championship All-Star and OCAA Championship MVP in 2015. Ashley Black would go on to become the most decorated pitcher in school history, earning four OCAA All-Star honours and being named OCAA Pitcher of the Year, OCAA Championship MVP and CCSA National All-Star in 2018. During Baker’s time as Pitching Coach several Durham College pitchers have also been named OCAA All-Stars and or OCAA Championship All-Stars including Sam McCallum 2016-17, Emily Hill 2017-18, Emily Glendinning 2018-19 and Sydney Reddick in 2021-22.
Baker took over the softball program in 2021-22 after coaching legend Jim Nemish retired. In his very first season he helped bring home a 21st OCAA Softball Championship for the Lords in fine fashion with a nail biting 8-7 extra inning victory over the regular season league champion St. Clair College (17-1).
As a player back in the late 1990’s, Baker was able to lead his teams to compete against some of the best Men’s Fastpitch teams in the world. His teams have also won several Ontario championships both at the senior and intermediate level. Nationally, his teams have gone on to win two silver and two bronze medals.
After almost 18 years playing men’s major fastpitch/softball Baker then turned his attention to his family and coached his two son’s Elite Baseball teams in Oshawa for the next 12 years. Winning an Ontario Championship and participating at the highly regarded Cooperstown tournament were a few of his highlights during this time. He has also had a hand in coaching several players who have gone on to play D1 Baseball in the US, have represented Canada and a couple have even been drafted into the MLB.
