Cedric Baker enters his 22nd season as head women’s basketball coach at Savannah State University and his 32nd year as a head coach. He was named head women’s basketball coach at Savannah State on July 30, 2003.
Since coming to Savannah State, Baker has gradually improved the women’s basketball program and in the process has become one of the most successful head coaches in University history.
In the 2014-15 season, SSU went 21-11 overall and 13-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC); all records were the best in the program's Division I era (since 2002-03) and the best MEAC record since its first year of competition in 2011-12.
In the 2013-14 season SSU went 19-14 overall, 10-6 in the MEAC, and 10-2 in Tiger Arena; all records were the best in the program’s Division I era (since 2002-03). It was also the best MEAC record the programs had since its first year of competition in 2011-12.
The Lady Tigers under Baker made history in the 2014 MEAC Tournament with wins over Morgan State and Florida A&M. They were the first basketball team in the school's history to make the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament.
Prior to that, the 2006-07 team earned a spot on the Division I most improved list, compiled by the NCAA, with a 7.5 game improvement. Their winning percentage also increased to .413 in 2006-07 from .142 in 2005-06. The team earned a .577 winning percentage in 2010-11.
During his tenure at Savannah State University, Baker has helped guide the Lady Tigers to some of the most significant wins in the history of the program. Those wins came against opponents from various Division I conferences, including: The University of Texas San Antonio (Conference USA), Troy (Sun Belt), Charleston Southern (Big South), Longwood (Big South), East Carolina (Conference USA), Louisiana-Lafayette (Sun-Belt), Georgia Southern (Southern Conference), Tennessee St. (OVC), and Mercer (Atlantic Sun).
Baker has also proved successful in the HBCU arena, recording wins over Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern Shore, Howard, Florida A&M, Norfolk State, Delaware State, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, Morgan State, and SIAC champion Fort Valley State.
In the 2013-14 season, Baker eclipsed 300 career wins and broke 100 Savannah State NCAA Division I wins, etching himself into the record books with the most NCAA Division I wins (111) in school history.
During the 2019-20 season, Baker led the Lady Tigers to a 15-8 overall record, their best since the 2014-15 season during the program’s first year of competition back in NCAA Division II and in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The Lady Tigers earned the No. 2 Seed in the SIAC East Division with a 10-7 conference record.
Baker came to Savannah State from Benedict College where he served as head women’s basketball coach and guided the program to a 55-29 overall record during his tenure. In 2003, his team finished third in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Eastern Division with a 19-9 record. He led the team to back-to-back Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EIAC) championships in 2001 and 2002, and was named EIAC Coach of the Year in 2002.
Prior to his coaching position at Benedict, he served as head coach of the Voorhees College women’s basketball team where he compiled a 139-86 record during his seven years at the program’s helm. His team earned four EIAC championships and three NAIA Division I National tournament appearances. In 2000, his team compiled a record of 24-4, earning him an at-large berth into the NAIA Division I basketball tournament. The team was ranked number 16 in the NAIA Division I top 25 final poll and was the EIAC conference champions with a record of 12-0.
Baker graduated from Voorhees College in 1990, earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and applied sciences. At Voorhees, he was a four year basketball letterman and a member of the 1987 Voorhees Men’s Basketball EAIC Championship team.
Full Name:
Cedric W. Baker
Education:
Voorhees College, ’90
Playing Experience:
Voorhees College, 1986-1990
Member of the 1987 Voorhees EAIC Championship Team
Coaching Experience:
Voorhees College, 1993-2000 | Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Benedict College, 2000-2003 | Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Savannah State, 2003-Present | Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Honors:
2015 MEAC Coach of the Year
2015 MEAC Tournament, Outstanding Coach
Memberships in Civic Organizations:
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Favorite Athlete:
Hank Aaron
Favorite Food:
Mashed Potatoes
Favorite Leader:
C.D. Brooks
