Emporia State names next Lady Hornets basketball coach
EMPORIA (KSNT) - Emporia State University (ESU) has named the next leader of the Lady Hornets Basketball team.
ESU Director of Athletics David Spafford announced that Melissa (MJ) Baker will be the ninth head coach of the Lady Hornets basketball program.
"I am honored and humbled to accept the role as Head Coach of the historic Lady Hornet Basketball program at Emporia State University," Baker said. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Ken Hush, Director of Athletics David Spafford, and Senior Associate AD Steve Rodecap for believing in me and entrusting me with this incredible opportunity."
Spafford said in a news release on Tuesday, April 15 that Baker comes to ESU after an eight-year run at Eastern Florida State College, where she went 183-58. She has three conference championship titles and three trips to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. In her time as a collegiate coach, Baker has won 334 games, and left the Titans to a 33-2 record and national semifinal appearance in 2023.
"Very excited to have Coach MJ Baker join Hornet Nation to lead our Lady Hornet Women's Basketball program," Spafford said. "Coach Baker's high energy, enthusiasm, integrity, passion for the game, work ethic and her ability to continually bring her programs to compete at a championship level year in and out were all factors in our process."
Before her coaching stint at Eastern Florida, Baker spent three seasons at Broward College where she went 65-20 with two conference championships. Her first coaching job was at Spartanburg Methodist.
Baker and her husband, Ganon, have three children: Kayonna, Kalel and Espn.
"My family and I are thrilled to join the Emporia State community," Baker said. "We are excited about the future and truly grateful to be part of a university with such rich tradition and passionate support."
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