DURANGO, Colo. — Bree Baker has been hired as an assistant women's soccer coach at Fort Lewis College, Director of Athletics Kelly Higgins announced today.
Baker's position is funded in part by the NCAA Division II Coaching Enrichment Grant, which Fort Lewis College applied for earlier this year. The grant was established to address the issues of access, recruitment, selection and long-term success of women, ethnic minorities and other individuals in Division II who seek to overcome hiring barriers. It helps create assistant coaching positions within the division.
“We're very thankful to the NCAA for the grant as it will go a long way toward helping our women's soccer team achieve its goals and, in the process, allow Bree to start working on achieving her professional aspirations as well,” said Higgins. “She's a great addition to the program.”
Baker served as a student assistant coach for the Skyhawks in 2009, helping FLC to an 18-3-3 overall record and its third Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament championship in four years. She was recently appointed the assistant director of the Durango Youth Soccer Association (DYSA) and served as an assistant girls' soccer coach at Durango High School during the 2009 and 2010 campaigns for head coach Aaron Eldridge.
She joins an assistant coaching staff that already includes assistants Todd Padgett, Jason McDermid and Jason Beswick (who also helps with the defending NCAA Division II national champion men's team at FLC).
“Bree is a dedicated alum who has always proven her worth through her strong work ethic,” said Clarke, now in his fourth year as head coach at FLC. “She's developing into a fantastic young coach who is a big part of the community with the work she does for DYSA.”
Baker was a goalkeeper for the Skyhawks from 2005 to 2008, helping FLC win Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament titles in 2006 and '07. She earned Academic All-RMAC honors twice during her career and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 RMAC tournament. She also earned RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors numerous times during her career.
“It's a privilege,” Baker said of her recent appointment. She called herself lucky to play with a talented group of teammates who shaped the Skyhawk women's soccer program as an emerging league and regional power. “Every class we had broke records. We were a group that made the program better every single year. As a coach, I'd like the opportunity to help them do the same thing.”
Baker finished her career as FLC's career leader in shutouts (23) and victories (33). She appeared in 66 games, starting 55 times and posting an overall record of 33-17-5.
She graduated magna cum laude from Fort Lewis College with a bachelor's degree in biology, secondary teacher certification and a minor in exercise science in 2010.
Baker hails from Penrose, Colo., and played prep soccer and basketball at Cañon City High School.
