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Mark Baker uncertain about status as Trotwood coach
TROTWOOD — If Trotwood-Madison is to continue its ultra successful boys high school basketball run, it might not be with Mark Baker.
Baker said on Wednesday that he has not resigned as the Rams’ head coach, but is pursuing other opportunities. He informed Trotwood athletic director Jim Ladd of that last week.
“I wanted them to get a heads up on some things I was looking at,” Baker said. “I might officially resign. However, I haven’t done that yet.”
Ladd said that he thought Baker had resigned. Baker has since contacted Ladd and advised him otherwise. Baker said that he should know this week if he’ll continue to be the Rams’ coach.
“I’ve had an exceptional time and run at Trotwoood,” Baker said. “Part of me is really wanting to stay and looking to continue to build a quality program.
“We have quality kids and a good situation at Trotwood. However, I have to look at these options for my family’s sake. I just don’t know yet for sure.”
Ladd said that Baker was a good fit for Trotwood.
“There’s no ill feelings. We love Mark,” Ladd said.
“Despite all the other things that he had to deal with, he’s a heck of a coach and he was doing it the right way.”
Baker is a resource development manager with the Mentoring Collaborative of Montgomery County, where he’s been a full-time employee for the last 10 years. MCMC provides training services for agencies that unite mentors with at-risk youth.
Rocky Rockhold, a former head coach at Greeneview, was Baker’s varsity assistant the last two seasons.
Should Baker leave, the Rams will have had three new coaches since placing second in the Division I state tournament in 2006 under then coach Ike Thornton. Larry Ham coached Trotwood the next two seasons and Baker from 2008-11.
The Rams continued the excellence under Baker that has marked their program. Trotwood won three outright GWOC North titles and was 25-1 in league play. However, all three seasons ended with district final losses.
Last season was his most trying. T-M started 6-0, then endured a 2-4 midseason slump that was punctuated with a blowout 85-60 loss to Wayne.
“We’re at a crossroads,” a frustrated Baker said after the Wayne loss. “They just gave us a schooling on how to play basketball.”
The Rams responded by winning seven straight and closing the season on a 10-2 run, losing only to Thurgood Marshall (71-58) and Cincinnati Moeller (60-52) in a district final.
This is Baker’s first job as a varsity high school head coach and it wasn’t without almost immediate controversy. He was named a defendant in a lawsuit that claimed he encouraged a halftime locker room fight between players Dominique Reed and Marcus Graham in January 2009. Reed suffered a broken hand.
The suit, filed by the Reed family, has since been resolved.
Baker was a starting guard on Dunbar’s 1987 D-I state title team and stared as a point guard at Ohio State University. He played briefly in the NBA and overseas. He also was the head coach of the Dayton Jets for two seasons.
TROTWOOD WITH BAKER
2008-09: 20-4, GWOC North title, district finalist.
2009-10: 19-5, GWOC North title, district finalist.
2010-11: 18-6, GWOC North title, district finalist.
Career record: 58-15.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Boys basketball
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By Hoggy
April 5, 2011 11:53 PM | Link to this
Mr. Basketball, Billy Staten, is ready to come back and save the program.
By Alex
April 6, 2011 1:14 AM | Link to this
The only thing Billy Staten can do is cause problems for a team. Worthless.
By true to the blue
April 6, 2011 6:41 AM | Link to this
PLEASE DO NOT LET BILL STATEN COACH AGAIN WILL TEAR THE PROGRAM COMPLETELY APART , PLUS HE TO BUSY TRYING TO TELL COLLEGE COACHES WHAT TO DO….GIVE ONE OF THE ASSISTANT COACHES THE JOB THE PROBLY DESERVE BETTER THAN STATEN.
By TRUE DUNBAR FAN
April 6, 2011 6:44 AM | Link to this
STATEN IS NOT THE FIT YOU NEED TO COACH TROTWOOD LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE HE HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS ALREADY WITH HIS SONS CAREER….
By Basketball fan
April 6, 2011 7:20 AM | Link to this
Baker never could win with class and sportsmanship so hpoefully they will bring someone in with respect for the game.
By concerned
April 6, 2011 8:23 AM | Link to this
Someone please contact Ike Thornton or Mike Carter so theycan get this program back on track. Bill Staten would bea horrible fit. please don’t let thathappen.
By twood bball fan
April 6, 2011 9:16 AM | Link to this
Whatever happen to that lawsuit that was filed against the school and Baker for the locker room fight? Hate to see anyone lose their job but Twood was a power house back in the day and we need to get back the swag and be mentioned in the same talk as Dunbar and Thurgood.
By Daytonian
April 6, 2011 9:46 AM | Link to this
Just want to wish Coach Baker the best.I am in Texas and know from Ike who is doing well down here that the T-W crowd can be a rough crowd.Anyway Mark the best to you and your family and hopefully the next coach can give T-W what they want.
By NUTTS
April 6, 2011 9:59 AM | Link to this
I KNOW FOLKS AIN’T EVEN TRYING TO GET THAT BILL STATEN TO BE A COACH IN T-W DUDE ALREADY ALREADY HAVE MESSED UP HIS SON CHANCES BECAUSE OF HIM HIS MOUTH GOING TO HAVE HIS BOY AT SINCLAIR OR CENTRAL STATE AT BEST SO T-W PEOPLE DON’T MESS WITH STATEN!!!!
By HOMETOWN
April 6, 2011 4:50 PM | Link to this
WOW, THE STATEN COMMENTS ARE STRICKLY COMING FROM THOSE UPSET UD ALUMNI. STATEN’S FIRST MISTAKE WAS SIGNING WITH UD,HE SHOULD HAD RESCINDED THE SCHOLARSHIP OFFER AND ATTENDED ANOTHER COLLEGE. EVERY TALENTED LOCAL KID THAT HAVE DECIDED TO STAY LOCAL AND PLAY FOR UD,RANKING DROPS DUE TO THE STYLE OF PLAY. OH, YES I WILL GIVE THE UD ALUMNI SOME CREDIT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SUPPORT THERE TEAMS. BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW MANY OF YOU THAT CHEER ON THOSE YOUNG MEN OR WOMEN EVER GAME, HAVE HELPED OR OFFERED THEM A JOB AFTER THEIR 4 YEARS ARE OVER? I WILL SAY “LITTLE TO NONE” YES, I DO AGREE WITH THE OTHERS ABOUT HOW DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THERE SPORTS PROGRAM. BUT, SINCE LORI WARD HAS TAKEN OVER I DO SEE SOME SMALL STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TOWARD CHANGE. THE NEW COACH AT THURGOOD WAS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE. THE INNER CITY KIDS NEED TO SEE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. IT’S TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL FOR DAYTON DUNBAR BASKETBALL STAFF.
By Grandma Wyatt
April 6, 2011 5:31 PM | Link to this
People, do us all a favor and lose the all CAPS button.
By null
April 6, 2011 9:41 PM | Link to this
Trotwood would never be in the conversation with Dunbar or Thurgood!! I played on the team (Class of 2010) and blasted T-Wood by 20.
By null
April 6, 2011 9:41 PM | Link to this
Trotwood would never be in the conversation with Dunbar or Thurgood!! I played on the team (Class of 2010) and blasted T-Wood by 20.
By Trotwood Grad
April 7, 2011 9:05 AM | Link to this
Let Baker and his entire staff go! They werent good for the boys or the district; how can you truly coach Trotwood Kids and always praise Dunbar??? Trotwood needs to bring in someone who has the kids in Trotwood in their interest.
By Grandma Wyatt
April 7, 2011 5:13 PM | Link to this
That’s strong down the middle, Hometown. Thanks for sharing.
By No Way
April 8, 2011 2:24 PM | Link to this
Trotwood do not need Bill Staten as the coach. I agree with all of the other comments on how he has screwed up everything everywhere he has been. Now karma is biting him on the behind.