John Baker begins his first season as Head Coach of the Women's Rugby team and his fourth season overall with the program in 2026.
For the past four years, Baker has been the team's assistant coach, initially joining the team for its inaugural season in 2023, where the program won its first-ever match. Throughout his tenure, he has helped the team to an overall mark of 10-14, including advancing to the NIRA semifinals in each of the past two seasons.
Baker came to Frostburg from Alderson Broaddus, where he helped to start the Battlers' men's and women's rugby programs, being the assistant coach for both teams in 2018 before becoming the head coach for each in 2021. Prior to his time at AB, Baker performed various coaching roles from 2012-18 for West Virginia University's Men's Rugby Club, where he led the team to three conference championships and two appearances at the USA Rugby National Collegiate Rugby Championship Tournament.
Baker attended the University of Richmond, earning his Bachelor's degree while playing for the Rugby Football Club from 2002-03. Baker continued his rugby career another 10 years, playing for several clubs across the country, most recently with the West Virginia War Hounds in 2014.
