The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Tabs Baker to Lead Student-Athlete Development Staff
10/18/2018 | Athletics
Baker Served Same Role at Memphis Since 2012
OXFORD, Miss. – After successfully leading the student-athlete academic support departments at the University of Memphis and East Tennessee State, Dr. Bob Baker has been tabbed for that role at Ole Miss, named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development on Thursday.
"Over the years, we have appreciated that the athletics department recognizes the importance of academic performance and degree attainment by our student athletes," said Noel Wilkin, Ole Miss Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. "We believe that Bob Baker will continue to foster this culture, and I am thrilled that he is becoming part of our team."
Baker has dedicated 24 years of his life to providing guidance to youth, including the last 16 working with college student-athletes. He directed the academic services staff at Memphis since 2012 and served in that same capacity at ETSU from 2006-11.
"We are extremely excited to add Bob Baker to our athletics executive team and the university's academic administration," said Ross Bjork, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Bob's 20 plus years of student development experience will provide our program with the right kind of leadership so we can continue to build upon the momentum we have in our academic and student-athlete development programs.
"The academic metrics and profile within our FedEx Student Athlete Success Center have never been stronger, and we expect Bob to continue this growth and help our student athletes achieve their full potential in the classroom and in the community. Bob and his family will be great additions to the Ole Miss and Oxford communities, and we cannot wait for him to get started."
"I am absolutely thrilled to be able to join such a talented and dynamic team and can't wait to join arms with my new co-workers to elevate the student-athlete experience at Ole Miss," Baker said. "I am really excited to be joining the Ole Miss family and am grateful to the search committee, Dr. Noel Wilkin, Ross Bjork and Dr. Lynnette Johnson for the opportunity."
After joining the Memphis staff in 2011, Baker assumed oversight of the Center for Athletic Academic Services one year later and eventually was named Associate A.D. He was responsible for all activities related to the compliance and eligibility of student athletes and served as liaison between the athletics department and the campus faculty, administration and staff. He also coordinated APR (Academic Progress Rate), GSR (Graduation Success Rate) and football initial eligibility and admissions.
Academic all-conference selections for Tiger student athletes rose by 41 percent during Baker's tenure, while graduation rates reached a program high of 90 percent in 2018. He also worked with faculty leaders to create an improved class attendance policy, which he also accomplished at East Tennessee State.
Baker ascended to the title of Assistant A.D. for Academic Services during his five years at ETSU. The overall student-athlete GPA increased in each of his semesters in Johnson City, peaking at 3.21 in Spring 2011. In addition, the Bucs men's basketball team ranked top-10 nationally with a 990 APR score in 2010.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Baker worked at his alma mater from 2002-06 as the project director of a college prep program for disadvantaged students and as an academic mentor for freshman football student athletes. Prior to that, he spent eight years in the counseling/mental health profession working with juvenile offenders and programs for at-risk youth.
Baker has been a member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) since 2006 and has served on the Legislative Affairs Committee, the Atlantic Sun Conference Liaison and currently serves on the N4A's Strategic Planning Committee.
Baker and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Abigail and Elyse.
"Over the years, we have appreciated that the athletics department recognizes the importance of academic performance and degree attainment by our student athletes," said Noel Wilkin, Ole Miss Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. "We believe that Bob Baker will continue to foster this culture, and I am thrilled that he is becoming part of our team."
Baker has dedicated 24 years of his life to providing guidance to youth, including the last 16 working with college student-athletes. He directed the academic services staff at Memphis since 2012 and served in that same capacity at ETSU from 2006-11.
"We are extremely excited to add Bob Baker to our athletics executive team and the university's academic administration," said Ross Bjork, Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Bob's 20 plus years of student development experience will provide our program with the right kind of leadership so we can continue to build upon the momentum we have in our academic and student-athlete development programs.
"The academic metrics and profile within our FedEx Student Athlete Success Center have never been stronger, and we expect Bob to continue this growth and help our student athletes achieve their full potential in the classroom and in the community. Bob and his family will be great additions to the Ole Miss and Oxford communities, and we cannot wait for him to get started."
"I am absolutely thrilled to be able to join such a talented and dynamic team and can't wait to join arms with my new co-workers to elevate the student-athlete experience at Ole Miss," Baker said. "I am really excited to be joining the Ole Miss family and am grateful to the search committee, Dr. Noel Wilkin, Ross Bjork and Dr. Lynnette Johnson for the opportunity."
After joining the Memphis staff in 2011, Baker assumed oversight of the Center for Athletic Academic Services one year later and eventually was named Associate A.D. He was responsible for all activities related to the compliance and eligibility of student athletes and served as liaison between the athletics department and the campus faculty, administration and staff. He also coordinated APR (Academic Progress Rate), GSR (Graduation Success Rate) and football initial eligibility and admissions.
Academic all-conference selections for Tiger student athletes rose by 41 percent during Baker's tenure, while graduation rates reached a program high of 90 percent in 2018. He also worked with faculty leaders to create an improved class attendance policy, which he also accomplished at East Tennessee State.
Baker ascended to the title of Assistant A.D. for Academic Services during his five years at ETSU. The overall student-athlete GPA increased in each of his semesters in Johnson City, peaking at 3.21 in Spring 2011. In addition, the Bucs men's basketball team ranked top-10 nationally with a 990 APR score in 2010.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Baker worked at his alma mater from 2002-06 as the project director of a college prep program for disadvantaged students and as an academic mentor for freshman football student athletes. Prior to that, he spent eight years in the counseling/mental health profession working with juvenile offenders and programs for at-risk youth.
Baker has been a member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) since 2006 and has served on the Legislative Affairs Committee, the Atlantic Sun Conference Liaison and currently serves on the N4A's Strategic Planning Committee.
Baker and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Abigail and Elyse.
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