Vice President of Athletics Scott Swain announced last week the hiring of Colin Baker as the new women’s soccer head coach.
After two months of applications and interviews, Swain and the rest of the search committee selected Baker to lead the team into its second season of Mountain East Conference play within the NCAA. The search committee consisted of Swain alongside Assistant Athletic Directors Laura Schafer and Dan Trocano.
“Colin stood out because of his personality and how he relates to student athletes,” Swain said. “I think he has a very good communication style with student-athletes.”
The head coach position opened in December after former coach Kelly Raddar resigned in late November.
Swain said that the position had over 60 applicants, and the finalists visited campus to meet with members of the athletic department.
“He is the right leader to take us in our next chapter,” Swain said. “And I’ve said that to the women on the team, that this is the new chapter of Pioneer women’s soccer.”
The committee selected Baker for his experience in NCAA Division II athletics and recruiting ability.
“Going into the NCAA and the Mountain East Conference, I think he is absolutely the person to take us to that next level,” Swain said. “Not only through the current players, but also recruiting and bringing in players that will help us win on this level.”
Baker has 12 years of collegiate coaching experience, leading both men’s and women’s soccer teams on the Division II, Division III and NAIA level.
He recently served as Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Mo., for two seasons. In 2024, Baker helped the team to its best record in program history, earning a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament and winning its first ever NCAA postseason game. The team went 16-3-3 on the season.
Baker’s efforts at Missouri Western State helped the coaches earn Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors from the United Soccer Coaches association.
“He’s coming from a highly successful program in one of the toughest conferences in the nation,” Swain said. “He knows what it is to win, and that’s why he stood out.”
Baker also served as an interim coach for Western Oregon’s men’s soccer team in 2022 for its first season in school history. Before that, he was the head women’s soccer coach at Adams State for three years, where the Grizzlies earned their first playoff appearance in 15 years.
Baker will begin working on campus at Point Park next week, as he moves from Missouri to Pittsburgh. He will lead the women’s soccer team into its conditioning practices and spring season.
Sophomore defender Austyn Burkett said that the entire team is excited about Baker’s hiring.
“Although we haven’t met [Baker] in person yet, so far just speaking to him through video calls and messages has shown us that he knows what he’s doing and has a vision for improving our program,” Burkett said.
Baker met with the players of the women’s soccer team via Zoom last week.
“I know he’s going to bring high intensity to our game, and I know our team can handle it,” Burkett said. “We just need to be willing to learn and accept the feedback that he gives us.”
Burkett said that Baker has openly communicated with the team on many occasions so far, and he has several goals for the team including a new playing style and formation changes.
“He really works with the women on the team to make good two-way communication [between] student-athletes and the coach,” Swain said. “I think they’re seeing that already.”
The women’s soccer team begins its non-championship season in March, facing local opponents in exhibition matches.
“I think this spring season is going to be excellent with Coach Baker coming in,” Burkett said. “I can already tell girls are starting to take training seriously
“I have no doubt that Coach Baker will make a significant impact on this team. He has already made a great start, and I am excited to see what will unfold once he arrives and we begin training.”
