Heath Baker Jr. enters his second season on the Benedictine College football coaching staff in 2026, transitioning to work with the Cornerbacks while continuing his duties as the program's Director of Equipment and Field Operations.
Baker spent the 2025 season as the Ravens' Graduate Assistant Defensive Line Coach and Coordinator of Gameday Analytics. During that standout 2025 campaign, he helped guide Benedictine to a Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship and an appearance in the NAIA National Semi-Finalists. Under his direct mentorship, three Raven defensive linemen earned All-Conference postseason honors: Jason Anderson (2nd Team), Xavier Hernandez (2nd Team), and Blake Casteel (Honorable Mention).
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Baker enjoyed a stellar playing career as a defensive lineman for the Ravens from 2021 to 2024. A regular fixture in the backfield, he was a key piece of three Heart Championship teams (2022, 2023, 2024), an NAIA National Quarterfinalist run (2022), and an NAIA National Semi-Finalist appearance (2024). A trusted locker room leader, Baker was named Team Captain in 2024. His individual accolades include: 2nd Team NAIA/AFCA All-American (2023), 3rd Team VSN All-American (2024), and 1st Team All-Heart Defensive Line (2023, 2024).
An active member of the local football community, Baker also serves as the Camp Director for the Atchison County Community School District PreK-12 Football Team Camp. He began his collegiate playing career at Emporia State University during the 2020 season before transferring to Benedictine in the summer of 2021.
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Coach Baker replied "I believe that coaching is about much more than the game, it is about developing the whole person. Our student-athletes may arrive on campus as strangers, but they should leave as family, equipped with the values, leadership, and skills necessary to make a positive impact in their communities."
A native of Atchison, Kansas, Baker graduated from Atchison High School before earning his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and Exercise Science (with a concentration in Coaching) from Benedictine College. He is First Aid/CPR certified and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in School Leadership at Benedictine.
Baker resides in Atchison. He is engaged to Twilah Carrasquillo, a former Benedictine College women's basketball player who holds both a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in School Leadership from BC. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, landscaping, studying football, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
