BAKER RESIGNS

Chris Baker ended a four-year tenure as Whitley County Boys Basketball Coach resigning effective Monday May 9^th.

Baker said after meeting with Superintendent Scott Paul a couple of weeks ago, the two felt the program was going in two different directions. “We discussed the direction of the program and where it needed to go. After coming away from that meeting and talking to him we met again and I realized that my expectations and what it took to be successful and the administration’s expectations where two different things.”

“We mutually agreed that I would resign,” said Baker, who compiled a 59-52 record in four seasons at Whitley County.

“I am very proud of what we have done here,” he said. “I am very proud of it. We took a program that had not won in forever and we had the best four-year run since ’93 through ’97.

We went to the region tournament for the first time in like 12 years. We went for the 13^th time in school history and only the fourth time since 1980,” Baker said.

“I would like to have won more games. I think that would have helped make things a little smoother, but if you look back over the last three or four years there is nobody that has played a more challenging and competitive schedule than we have. I don’t care what program it is in this region.

We played Louisville Eastern and Clark County. We played in tournaments that were challenging. We didn’t rack up a lot of cream puff wins; we went out and played people. We didn’t back down from anybody and I am proud of that. Fans would have liked to seen more wins I’m sure, but at the same time we were playing teams that I thought would make us better down the line.” Baker said.

“I’ve had great kids, tremendous parents, who gave a lot of support and I appreciate them as well as my assistant coaches. They all worked hard especially Jason Faulkner, Josh Price and Tom Allen. They were all tremendous and they gave me all they had,” said Baker.

“I appreciate the honor to coach at my alma mater,” said Baker. “It was a special time for me. But, at the end of the day, we have different ideas how to be successful and how much control a coach needs to get to that point.

All I ever wanted was my program to be treated the same as the other three majors sports in our school. You never come to the day that you have three straight winning seasons, an appearance in the region tournament, a district runner-up and that is not good enough,” said Baker.

Baker said he had no plans right now to look for a basketball position elsewhere, but that he would not rule out returning to the sidelines in the future. “I want to take my time. I am not in any hurry and I plan to be here next year,” he said.

Whitley County Athletic Director Mike Campbell said, "we appreciate the efforts of Coach Baker during his time here. Coach Baker’s four years ended on a high note with three consecutive winning seasons. We wish him well."

Baker will remain employed as a teacher at the high school. The search process will begin immediately. It is hoped a new coach can be in place by mid June.