Gallagher column: Baker finds success in D-II

Catawba College's Jim Baker in game with Brevard College. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Catawba College's Jim Baker in game with Brevard College. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

On Jan. 23, first-place Catawba lost a game to eighth-place Newberry and Jim Baker knew it was time to show the team his "mean side."

A wake-up call was needed for the South Atlantic Conference preseason favorites. The Indians were 11-7, despite bringing back one of the best senior classes in Catawba history.

"It's a tradition with me," Baker chuckled. "I find something to hammer them about. I had them in a classroom and I yelled and screamed.

"Now, I don't have to say anything else."

The players obviously got the message, winning their next three SAC games. They went into Wednesday's contest at Newberry with a 14-7 overall mark and were still in first place.

Last Saturday's hard-fought 78-65 victory over Tusculum was also Baker's 300th win as a head coach, all at Catawba.

He shook at least 300 hands and had twice as many memories.

"I've been blessed with good players," he said.

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Baker doesn't remember his first win (Nov. 19, 1994) as easily as he does his first loss, a day before to Barber-Scotia. His head coaching debut resulted in a 20-point loss.

"We played in the old Independence Arena in Charlotte and there was ice under the floor because that's where the Checkers played," Baker recalled. "I was walking off and my feet were so cold. I remember thinking, 'I may never win a game.' "

At that moment, Callum Brown, ("one of my favorite players," Baker said), approached him and gave him a hug.

"Sorry, Coach, we let you down."

Baker's Indians then scored 105 in thrashing Livingstone and the drive to 300 had begun.

No. 100 came against West Virginia Tech in 1999.

No. 200 was recorded in January of 2002.

No. 300 may have been the sweetest of all. It came against a team whose philosophy is completely different from Baker's. Fast-paced Catawba had to win by making big defensive plays.

It was appropriate that this senior class helped him to this milestone. Antonio Houston, Rob Fields, Donald Rutherford and Donzell Williams will leave the school with over 4,000 points and a slew of championships.

And they credit their coach.

"I had nowhere to go coming out of high school," senior guard Rob Fields said. "Whatever happens to me in the future, I'll thank Coach Baker."

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The funny thing is, Baker never envisioned himself as a Catawba mainstay. He had been a Division I assistant and loved the big arenas and big-time atmosphere.

"I didn't really think I'd be here that long," admitted Baker, who took over the program from icon Sam Moir in 1994. "I figured with a Division I background, I'd come here and get me some head coaching experience and go back."

He never left, thanks to strong family ties and a loyal coaching staff.

His father, Walt, a North Rowan coaching legend, was always watching before his death. His mother still comes. His grandmother didn't see him win No. 300 but the 102-year-old was listening on the radio.

His staff, which includes Bill Haggerty, Marvin Moore, Fred Lynn and Greg McKenzie, know each other through and through. Haggerty has been coaching at Catawba for 23 years. Moore, one of the greatest players Baker ever coached, is in his ninth. Lynn is in his 10th. McKenzie joined the group this year.

"We never meet," Baker said. "We might go to lunch and talk. But there's a lot of give and take between us. I don't have yes men."

That was evident outside the locker room after the win against Tusculum, which ran Baker's overall mark to 300-162.

Baker joked that he blamed the losses on the assistants. Moore quickly replied, "270 of those wins are mine."

Baker then walked into the locker room as the players chanted, "Coach, Coach, Coach..."

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Baker knows the toughest part of Division II isn't the coaching or motivating. It's money.

"Our level is tough," he said. "The finances aren't there. Duke spent our entire budget going to Boston College."

But the goals remain the same at all levels: Win and graduate.

Has Baker won? You betcha. In 15 years, Catawba has eight NCAA appearances, five regular-season titles and six tournament titles. He has eight 20-win season.

Do Baker's kids graduate? You betcha. He said 53 of his 57 seniors have received diplomas.

It's enough to make a guy forget his Division I dreams.

Almost.

"I miss the big arenas a little bit," Baker said. "I miss the challenges. But there are coaches in our league who can coach anywhere. Our kids are talented. They're just two, three inches shorter."

He watches North Carolina on television and sees 21,000 fans in the Deandome. While it gets his juices flowing, the 54-year-old puts it all in perspective, even if there are only 400 or so fans in Goodman Gym watching his talented team.

"Carolina has 30,000 students and we have 700," Baker noted. "If we get 300 in here, we have a higher percentage than they do."

And with that, Jim Baker knew it was time to start thinking about Catawba's next game, which turned out to be last night at Newberry.

"I've always said, it's not Duke and it's not Carolina," Baker smiled. "But Catawba is my Duke. It's my Carolina."

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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.