Travis Baker begins his second season on the Northern Arizona University coaching staff as the defensive line. He joined the Lumberjack program in the spring of 2011.

Baker coached a defensive front that combined for 30 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback sacks while helping the team rank 35^th in the Football Championship Subdivision against the rush in his first season in 2011. Senior Isaac Bond earned All-Big Sky first team honors after recording a team-best 7.5 tackles for loss (third in the Big Sky) with 4.0 sacks. Senior Blayne Anderson had a career-best year, ranking fifth on the team in tackles with seven tackles for loss. Senior Dan Pela was a CoSIDA Academic all-district choice. Returnees Tim Wilkinson and Jarrett Bilbrey both return after combining for over 60 tackles last season.

Baker was the defensive coordinator at Montana Western for the 2010 season. He served on the coaching staff at Eastern Oregon University from 2002-05, in La Grande, Ore. He was the defensive coordinator, working with the defensive line, safeties and special teams during his tenure. He was also the interim head coach during the 2004 season, hiring current NAU defensive coordinator Andy Thompson. Eastern’s special team punt and kickoff return units both ranked among the NAIA top 10.

Baker began his collegiate coaching career at Utah State under Head Coach Dave Arslanian (1999) and Mike Dennehy (2000-01) and coached with current NAU assistant David Reeves, working with the defensive line from 1999-01. Overall, he coached five student-athletes who earned all-conference honors with the Aggies. In 1999, two Aggie defensive linemen earned All-Big West accolades, including Vaea Fiefia, who was a second-team pick, and Doug Madoski, an honorable mention choice. In 2000, Nate Larsen earned honorable mention All-Big West honors and Nate Putnam was the only league freshman to earn All-Big West first-team conference honors. In 2001, DE Nick Onaindia signed with the Oakland Raiders after leading the team in tackles for loss.

Prior to coming to USU, Baker spent three years as an assistant coach at Lake Havasu (Ariz.) High School. In 1997 he coached the secondary, wide receivers and special teams and in 1998 he was the defensive coordinator, linebacker, special teams and receivers coach.

Baker was an all-county quarterback at Brockport (N.Y.) High School, while also playing basketball. Baker has also coached basketball and baseball at the high school level.

He earned a degree in physical education from Suny College at Brockport in 1996 and a master’s of education in secondary education from Utah State in 2001.

Travis Baker, Defensive Line

Born: May 19, 1973                  

College: Suny College at Brockport, 1996; Utah State, 2001.                  

Recruiting Areas: East Valley area of Arizona, Las Vegas, and Central, Calif.

Baker’s Coaching Chronology