Adams State University

Colin Baker enters his third season at the helm of the Adams State Women's Soccer Program (2021) that continues to strive and improve on and off the field.

Baker helped navigate a tough COVID-year in 2020-21 and helped the Grizzlies quailfy for the Rocky Mountain Atheltic Conference (RMAC) Tournament for the first time in 16 years. 

In his first season (2019-20), Baker brought plenty of hunger and championship experience from his time as an assistant coach from his previous institutions. The team doubled their win total from the 2018 (2-15) and went 5-11 with notable wins over RV Western Oregon University, #10 West Texas A&M, Colorado Christian, and CSU-Pueblo. The 2-1 win over West Texas A&M was the program’s first win ever against the Buffalos was also West Texas A&M’s first non-conference home loss since 2015. Their 1-0 win against CCU was the Grizzlies first win against CCU since 2016. Their 2-1 win against CSU-Pueblo was their first win against the Thunderwolves since 2015. Academically, the team registered a 3.46 GPA for the academic year with the 2020 spring semester being a program record of 3.58 team GPA.

Prior to his time at Adams State, Baker was the first assistant at Carroll College in Helena, Montana for two seasons. In those two seasons, the Saints accumulated a 23-15-5 record with wins over four Top 25 teams including a 3-2 overtime victory over then #5 Corban University, the first win in the program’s history over Corban. The Saints made the Cascade Collegiate Conference Playoffs twice, while making the conference semi-finals in 2018. Academically, the Saints were strong in the classroom. Baker oversaw the academic progress of the program which accumulated a 3.46 GPA for the 2017-18 academic year and a 3.53 GPA for the 2018-19 academic year. He also coached over 30 CCC Academic All-Conference performers, 14 NAIA Academic All-Americans, and the 2018 United Soccer Coaches NAIA Player of the Year.

    From 2015 to 2017, Baker spent time as the first assistant at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana. In a very successful stint with the Argos, the program finished as Cascade Collegiate Conference Runner-up two years in a row, while also qualifying for the 2015 and 2016 NAIA National Tournaments. The Argos registered eight wins over Top 25 teams and were ranked as high as #17 in the NAIA poll. The team finished 2015 ranked at #23 and in 2016 they finished ranked #24. Baker was responsible for the improvement of the team’s GPA and academic accolades. The 2015-2016 academic year saw the team GPA finish at a 3.38, which improved from 3.13 the previous year. The 2016-2017 academic year saw another improvement to the team GPA finishing at a 3.42. The Argos received recognition in the classroom with 16 Daktronics Scholar Athletes, 43 CCC Academic All-Conference athletes, eight NAIA Academic All-Americans, and two United Soccer Coaches Academic Team awards. On the field, Baker coached four NAIA All-Americans, six All-Region athletes, and 34 CCC All-Conference recipients.

From 2013 to 2015, Baker spent two seasons on staff at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. The Moundbuilders improved every year on and off the field. In 2013, the team finished 9^th in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, which was the highest in program history. They also registered the highest win total in program history that same season. Baker oversaw the academic progress of the program. The team GPA for the 2013-14 academic year was a 3.21. The team followed up the next year (2014-15) with a team GPA of 3.31. The Moundbuilders received recognition for the efforts in the classroom with eight KCAC Academic All-Conference athletes. The team also received the United Soccer Coaches Academic Team award in both years.

 Baker graduated from Southwestern College in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in English with an emphasis in Writing. He is currently finishing his Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He holds a USSF ‘C’ License, United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma, and the United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level II Diploma.

Twitter: @SoccerCoachCB

Instagram: @ASUGrizzWomensSoccer