Wren Baker

Wren Baker was named Rogers State University’s first athletic director and men’s basketball coach in February of  2006.

At the time of his naming, he was the youngest athletic director in the country at a four year university.  Baker provides leadership for the RSU Hillcat athletic programs, which participate in the prestigious Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). The university presently fields eleven sports.

After leading the Hillcat men’s basketball team to a 20-11 record in their first year of competition, Baker moved to full-time athletic director and appointed former associate head coach Lloyd Williams to the role of head men's basketball coach.
 

With Baker at the helm, the RSU athletic programs look to build a tradition of excellence among its current sports. RSU has won almost 70% of its athletic contests under Baker’s guidance.  During his administrative career, Baker has hired 10 head coaches who have combined to win nearly 75% of their games.  In the future, the university plans to expand its athletic program by adding new sports.

“It has been a dream come true to have the privilege to help form Hillcat athletics and I look forward to continuing to lead the development of the university’s athletic programs,” said Baker. “This is an exciting time to be at RSU.”

During his tenure, Baker has initiated and developed a widely successful corporate partnership program.  He has also guided several fundraising campaigns which led to improvements at RSU athletic facilities.

Baker is also responsible for creating ‘Hillcat Life Programs.’  These programs are designed to promote student-athletes success off the field or court by enriching the college experience of its student-athletes, helping them avoid potential pitfalls and giving them information useful when making important decisions. 

Baker has also negotiated several deals and contracts during his tenure.  These deals resulted in a successful apparel contract for the athletic department as well as media coverage including print media, radio and television. 

Baker served as an assistant in the OSU athletic department from 2001 to 2005, coordinating a variety of initiatives under the direction of former head men’s basketball coach Eddie Sutton.

“Wren is one of the great young talents in athletic administration,” Sutton said. “He is a quality person and a tireless worker.  He is a family man with high morals and values. He is a tremendous ambassador for the university and community.”

During his four-year tenure with OSU, the men’s basketball team achieved a 102-30 win-loss record including Final Four and Sweet 16 appearances.

In 2005, Baker returned to his hometown of Valliant (OK) to serve as athletic director/principal for the Valliant (Okla.) Public Schools. At the age of 26, he was the youngest principal in the state of Oklahoma.

Baker’s previous experience also includes serving as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant from 1999 to 2001.

He received a master’s degree in education leadership studies from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of the honors program and served in a variety of campus leadership roles.

He married the former Heather Wetzel on June 18, 2005. They reside in Claremore.