The Naval Academy Athletic Association announced the hiring of Nick Baker as their new Plebe Lightweight Rowing Coach. Nick comes to Navy from Yale University where he spent the last year as the Men's Heavyweight Assistant Varsity Coach. While assisting Head Coach John Pescatore at Yale, Nick became the primary coach for the heavyweight third varsity who finished the year undefeated while winning the Eastern Sprints by nearly three seconds.
"We believe Nick's character and enthusiasm will be key in molding our plebe lightweights into future varsity oarsmen," Head Coach Rob Friedrich said. "His experience in elite rowing programs and motivation to learn make him a perfect fit for our staff."
Over the past two summers, Nick has been head coach of both the Women's Senior and Youth Programs at the West Side Rowing Club in Buffalo, NY. While at West Side he also served a year as the Director of Rowing Operations.
Nick is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo where he became captain and president of the UB Rowing Team. While in college, he also captained the West Side Rowing Club's lightweight squad during the summers of 2000 and 2001 when he won two U.S. Club National Championships and four Canadian Henley Championships. During that time Nick was awarded West Side's Broderick Plate, the highest individual award presented annually to a male athlete for character, leadership and sportsmanship.
After graduating, Nick began his coaching career in Philadelphia for Vesper Boat Club and St. Joseph's Preparatory School, all the while training as an elite lightweight rower at Vesper and the Penn Athletic Club.