The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

Rowing hires Nick Baker as assistant coach
01.19.2018 | Rowing
Nick Baker brings 13 years of collegiate experience to the Longhorns, who placed fourth at the 2017 NCAA Championships.
AUSTIN, Texas – University of Texas head rowing coach Dave O'Neill announced Friday the hiring of 13-year collegiate assistant coach Nick Baker to the Longhorns' rowing coaching staff. Baker will begin his appointment on Feb. 1.
"When we opened the search for an assistant coach mid-year, I was uncertain of what coaches would be available at this time, but I was thrilled that Nick was interested," O'Neill said. "Although I didn't know Nick before this process began, he was highly recommended, and I was really impressed with what he could bring to our staff. He's thoughtful, smart and truly a student of the sport, and he has a wealth of experience. He's also proven to be highly effective in recruiting, so he's going to have a big impact on our program."
Baker joins the Longhorns after serving the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Drexel University, where he was the primary coach for the freshman program. His freshmen won the Dad Vail Gold Medal in all three seasons and were a grand finalist at the IRA in 2015 and 2016. He coached the third varsity eight boat and recruited three of the top freshman classes in program history. He served as the head coach for the U.S. Rowing U-23 Development Camp in 2015 while still on-staff at Drexel.
Baker was the head lightweight men's coach at The University of Pennsylvania for five seasons (summer 2009-spring 2014). In 2013, he led the Quakers to their first gold medal at the prestigious Head of the Charles since 1968. His freshmen eight won the EARC Sprints gold medal in 2014, which marked the first gold medal for the program since 1976.
Prior to his appointment at Pennsylvania, Baker coached four seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy. He led the freshmen (plebe) lightweight men for three seasons (Aug. 2005 through July 2008) and coached the first and second plebe boats to an undefeated regular season in the eights. Baker led the Midshipmen's head lightweight program during the 2009 season and paced Navy to a pair of medals at the Head of the Charles.
Baker began his collegiate coaching career during the 2004-05 season as an assistant coach for the men's heavyweight program at Yale University.
Baker is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a bachelor's in communication with a concentration in architecture.



