Early career

Baker was born and raised in Batesville, Arkansas

Batesville, Arkansas

Batesville is the county seat and largest city of Independence County, Arkansas, United States, 80 miles northeast of Little Rock, the state capital. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 9,556...

, and competed in his prep career at Batesville High School

Batesville High School (Batesville, Arkansas)

Batesville High School is one of the two public secondary schools that are located in the city of Batesville, Arkansas, in Independence County. Their mascot for the school is the Pioneer. The school colors are orange and black...

. He holds the state high school record in the 3200 meter run with 9:09.80 minutes. He was also a two-time state champion in the 1600 and 3200 meter run events.

Baker ran collegiately at the University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...

, winning team national titles in 1990 (indoor track and cross country), 1991 (indoor), 1992 (cross country, indoor and outdoor) and 1993 (cross country, indoor and outdoor). He won the NCAA Outdoor 5000-meter run in 1994 and ran a leg on the winning indoor distance medley relay team the same year.

Baker won two individual SEC conference cross country titles and two conferences titles in the 5000 meter run during his career at Arkansas. Baker's team won twelve total conference championships during his career and he was a seven time All-American.

International career

After graduating in 1994, Baker continued a professional running career with New Balance

New Balance

New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. , best known as simply New Balance, is a footwear manufacturer based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company...

. In 1995, he finished tenth in the 5000 meters at the 1995 Summer Universiade

1995 Summer Universiade

The 1995 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVIII Summer Universiade, took place in Fukuoka, Japan.-Emblem:The symbol mark is a motif of "U", expressing passion and energy in the flickering flames of a burning torch...

. He was also a member of the United States World Cross Country team in 1996 and 1997.

At the 1996 World Cross Country Championships

1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

The 24th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 23 March 1996 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :...

, Baker finished 41st in the long race and 13th in the team competition. At the 1997 World Cross Country Championships

1997 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

The 25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 23 March 1997 in Turin, Italy.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...

, he finished 98th in the long race and 11th in the team competition.

Baker then competed in the 5000 meters at the 1997 World Championships

1997 World Championships in Athletics

The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations...

, without reaching the final, and finished tenth in the 3000 meters at the 1999 World Indoor Championships

1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships

The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999. It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America. Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the...

. He finished fourth in the 5000 meters at the Pan American Games

Pan American Games

The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...

 in Winnipeg.

Baker's personal best times were 3:57.4 minutes in the mile run

Mile run

The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...

, achieved in May 1999 in Attleboro; 7:43.88 minutes in the 3000 meters, achieved in August 1998 in Hechtel; and 13:28.62 minutes in the 5000 meters, achieved in June 2000 in Dedham.

Coaching career

He is currently a head coach

Head coach

A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

 for the track and field teams at Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb University

Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...

. In June 2004, Baker was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame.