Basketball star returns to Bears as a coach
Coaching has always been in the bloodlines for Jordan Baker.
His mother Trix was a longtime head coach of the University of Alberta Pandas and was a threetime All-Canadian as a player with the team.
His father Doug was a three-time Golden Bears all-star and has also coached at various levels.
Jordan was a dominant force during his time with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
He is the program’s all-time leading scorer and all-time record holder in rebounds, assists, steals and field goals, among others.
Baker will go down as arguably the best Golden Bears basketball player ever.
He also gained valuable experience with Canada’s national program and spent the last three years playing professionally in Germany, Portugal and Japan.
But now he’s following in the footsteps of his parents and pursuing a career in coaching.
Baker is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Golden Bears and is enjoying his transition from the hard court to the sidelines.
“It hit when I was injured in my fourth year (with the Golden Bears). I missed a big chunk of games and I had to find ways to contribute off the court and I was doing things to help out the coaching staff,” Baker said this week as the 6-0 Golden Bears are set to host the 2-4 Saskatchewan Huskies this weekend at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play the game forever, and transitioning into coaching was something I always saw myself doing. It’s in my blood, and it’s something I’ve always had a passion for.
“I do miss it (playing), but I felt I went out on my own terms. I was offered a contract to go back to play in Japan, but it’s time for me to start a life where I wasn’t in a different place every year. It’s hard living a life like that, and Edmonton has always been home for me.”
As a player, Baker gave opponents and coaches nightmares as they devised defensive schemes to try and stop him.
Now, his role as a Bears assistant coach breaks down a lot of video of the opposition.
He provides scouting reports on the opposition’s top players and he works with the Bears individually.
“I look at a lot of film and I look at players’ tendencies. How can you beat them? As a player, you could beat me with one move, but now I’m going to take that away. Show me how you’re going to beat me again. I’ve taken that approach now with coaching,” said Baker.
“It’s rewarding to see a guy you’ve scouted play exactly how you’ve told the guys and we’ve found a way to shut them down.”
Baker signed in Japan last year and was ready to embark on his third season of pro basketball, but a broken jaw early in the year shut his season down.
His jaw had to be wired shut. He came back to Edmonton and to keep himself busy he started coaching with his former high school coach, George Hoyt.
It was then he started to think more seriously about pursuing a career in coaching.
“It felt nice to be involved in the game in that capacity. It was a different challenge for me and I started seeing myself wanting to pursue this path more,” said Baker.
“I do miss playing, but I felt it was time for me to start the next chapter in my life.
“I always knew I would go down this path. I was just missing the coaching experience on my resume. This was an opportunity for me I couldn’t pass up, so that if a (U Sports) head coaching opportunity did arise in the future, I would be qualified.”
Baker led the Bears to two national championship appearances in his five-year career, helping the Bears to a silver medal in 2012 and a bronze medal in 2014.
“Talent-wise, this is as good a team as any we’ve had at the U of A,” said Baker.
“The experience of last year has to be fresh in their mind. If we end up coming out of the Canada West and get to Final Eight, every possession matters. A couple of mistakes you can end up on the back side of the bracket.”