UTEP hires new head coach for women’s basketball team
Kevin Baker has been hired as the eighth head coach in UTEP women’s basketball program, UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull announced on Monday.
“We had tremendous interest nationally for this position, and it was really difficult going through the process of narrowing it down to the type of person that we wanted to lead this program,” Stull said in a news release. “In the end, no one could match the level of success he has achieved.”
“I am truly honored to take the reins of a program that has enjoyed so much success,” Baker said, “Coach Keitha Adams had an amazing run here for 16 years. She really put UTEP women’s basketball on the map, and my goal is to build on what she has already accomplished.”
UTEP said Baker comes to El Paso from Angelo State University, where he posted a combined record of 50-14 in two seasons from the 2015 through 2017. Baker was also the head coach at the University of Texas Tyler from 2012-15, compiling a 72-16 record. His combined college coaching record is 122-30.
Baker led Angelo State to a 26-6 mark in 2016-17, including the school’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and a runner-up finish in the NCAA South Central Regional.
Baker has led both a Division II (Angelo State) and Division III (UT-Tyler) school to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
His 2016-17 Angelo State squad was ranked as high as second in the nation, earning him Conference Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive season. The Rambelles were 24-8 in 2015-16, reaching the NCAA Regional semifinals.
Baker received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 1994 and his Masters of Education from Stephen F. Austin in 1996. He began his coaching career as an assistant girls basketball coach at Hudson High School in his hometown of Lufkin, Texas in 1994.
