Nathan Baker is entering his third season as an assistant coachwith the Virginia Commonwealth University volleyballprogram.
Baker joined Head Coach James Finley’sstaff after outstanding stints at the University of West Alabamaand Tusculum College.
“Nathan’s brings with him a highlevel of experience as head coach, as well as a passion for thegame and a record of winning,” Finley said. “He willhelp VCU volleyball take another step forward.”
Baker's impact on the Rams has been immediate andimpressive. In his first season in 2009, VCU was 27-9 and capturedits first Colonial Athletic Association Regular SeasonChampionship. The 27 victories were the Rams' most since 1985 andthe fourth-most in program history. The 2009 season also saw theRams rise to 65th in RPI and earn a top-40 victory over Pittsburghin the season's final weekend.
The Rams reached the CAA Tournament in each ofBaker's first two seasons, and VCU advanced to the leaguechampionship match in 2009.
Baker has been integral in the recruitment anddevelopment of a number of outstanding student-athletes during hisVCU tenure, including seven All-CAA citations. Among those was 2009CAA Rookie of the Year and All-CAA First Teamer Michala Kvapilova,who also earned All-East Region Honorable Mention credit. In justtwo seasons, three of his recruits have earned CAA All-Rookiehonors.
It was Baker who discovered current VCU standoutKristin Boyd at an AAU tournament and recommended her to Finley in2006.
In 2008, Baker served as head coach of DivisionII West Alabama in Livingston, Ala. and led the Tigers to a 22-11record and third place finish in the Gulf South Conference. It wasjust the fifth 20-win season in the history of the UWA program.
Six of Baker’s West Alabama players earnedAll-GSC recognition, a school record, as well as the Gulf SouthConference Freshman of the Year. Additionally, West Alabama posteda team grade-point-average over 
3.0 and placed nine players on the Dean’s List.
Prior to his tenure in Livingston, Baker directedTusculum in Greeneville, TN during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Intwo years with the Pioneers, Baker racked up 48 victories. His 2006squad finished 23-10, a 14-win improvement over the previousseason. That team also captured nine South Atlantic Conferencevictories, the program’s most since joining the league in1998. Tusculum improved on both of those marks in 2007, finishing25-9 overall and 11-3 in the SAC. He also coached Tusculum's FirstAll-American and South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year.
From 2003-06, Baker worked as an assistant coachat Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.
Baker began his coaching career at Colorado Northwestern CommunityCollege in Rangley, Colo. He also served as a student assistant atMartin Methodist College, where he earned a bachelors degree inHuman Service.
Baker is married to the former Jessica McDougalof Pulaski, Tenn. The couple has two daughters, Emma (5) and Morgan(3).
