Marshall football adds new co-defensive coordinator to coaching staff

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Marshall football has reached into the Big 10 Conference to make a late addition to its coaching staff.

Henry Baker has been hired as the team’s co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, according to a news release from Marshall University Athletics.

Baker comes to Huntington after spending the previous four seasons coaching cornerbacks at Maryland.

“We are excited to add the experience, knowledge and character of Henry Baker,” Marshall head coach Charles Huff said in the news release. “Henry has coached at all different levels and brings a wealth of knowledge and a track record of developing players. We are lucky to have an elite coach and person like Henry.”

Baker’s 2023 unit at Maryland finished ranked No. 3 in the nation in interceptions – a category they also led the Big Ten in – while also ranking No. 12 in FBS in pass efficiency defense.

Prior to the return to Maryland, his alma mater, the New Jersey native spent the 2019 season with the New York Giants as the assistant defensive backs coach. That stint in the NFL came after one-year stints as the cornerbacks coach at North Carolina (2018) and Rutgers (2017).

From 2011-16, Baker was the cornerbacks coach at the University of Delaware. During his final two years, the Blue Hens were nationally-ranked in passing yards allowed, interceptions and scoring defense.

During his playing career, Baker was a four-time letterwinner and two-year starter at Maryland from 1994-97. Baker went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003 and also spent several years in the Arena Football League.

Baker and his wife, Theresa, have a son, Khari, and two daughters Kaila and Khloe.