Dave Baker
Picture taken from College of Communication Website
In 2012, Penn State was handed the strictest sanctions that the NCAA has given in their history and rebuilt the majority of the Athletic Department. One name not told to pack his bags was Dave Baker, who has spent over 40 years as a part of the Penn State Athletic Department and as a professor. Baker has continued to pass on his knowledge to students and athletes while maintaining the title of Assistant Athletic Director.
Baker comes to work everyday knowing that it will be different from those before it, but he said that’s part of the excitement.
“Some days you have an idea of what the day looks like, Saturdays for instance. But for the most part, things can pop out with no warning.” Baker said.
After 41 years of service to one school, it would be imaginable for someone to want to get a change of scenery. That is not the case with Dave Baker. He was born in State College and has yet to move away for an extended period of time. Baker graduated from Penn State in 1973 with a degree in Journalism and began working with the Athletic Department the very next year. Baker would go on to earn his Masters of Business Administration in accounting in 1987 from Penn State as well.
In Bakers time at Penn State as an employee, he has worked as the schools Sports Information director, Athletic Business Manager, Assistant Athletic Director among other smaller positions. While working for Penn State, Baker has not just been another name in the office; he has won 24 publication awards from the CoSIDA including six Best in the Nation awards as Penn State’s Sports Information Director.
College Sports Information Directors of America
(Photo from CoSida Website
Baker now spends his days teaching a sport information course as a part of the John Curley Center for sports journalism and maintains his office in Bryce Jordan Center where he is the administrator for the men’s basketball program.