Wren Baker has been quick riser and quick study

Harry · July 26, 2016

Dated, as this was when he was at Memphis (He is interim at Missouri now):

When he was 26 years old, he was the youngest school principal in Oklahoma.

When he was 27, he was the first athletic director and men's basketball coach at a state school transitioning to a four-year university with eyes on NCAA membership.

When he was 32, in the first few months of his tenure as athletic director at a Division 2 power, he was tasked with replacing a retiring legend of a coach and then replacing the new coach after his sudden death.

So, yes, Wren Baker, the new No. 2 man at the University of Memphis athletic department, has had his share of quick studies. How he's handled them is what impressed Tom Bowen, the Tigers' athletic director, and led to his hiring last month to oversee all of the department's external operations.

"This young man is a rising rock star in this business," Bowen said.

Baker, 34, arrived in Memphis just a few weeks ago. He's still getting settled into his second-floor office near the Hardaway Hall of Fame, in the school's relatively new offices for development staff.

With the Tigers, he will have a hodgepodge of roles, including oversight of the department's fundraising, marketing, licensing and ticket office.

His background in college basketball, though, is of particular interest to Bowen. Baker was involved in helping to execute last week's decision by Bowen to extend coach Josh Pastner's contract. And Baker fondly recalls staying up late with Pastner a few weeks back talking shop.

"I will be very involved in the basketball program," Baker said. "That's what Tom's indicated he wants me to do. That's a good fit."

Baker's career in college athletics began ever so appropriately for the new No. 2 at Memphis: with a FedEx overnight envelope.

read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/new-memphis-deputy-ad-wren-baker-has-been-quick-riser--and-quick-study-ep-362197754-326793631.html

Harry · July 26, 2016

Wren Baker Missouri Bio

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Mack Rhoades recruited Wren Baker to serve as Rhoades' Deputy Director of Athletics (for External Relations) on May 20, 2015. At Mizzou, Baker oversees all external relations units, and serve as the sport administrator for the men's basketball program. Following Rhoades' departure to Baylor, Interim Chancellor Hank Foley appointed Baker to serve as Mizzou interim director of athletics.

Baker came to Mizzou from the University of Memphis, where he served as Deputy Director of Athletics/External Affairs from February 2013 to May 2015. At Memphis, Baker provided an immediate impact as the department secured the single largest gift in its history under his watch, while launching a $40 million capital campaign. In addition, suite sales and multi-media rights revenues set a new record and Memphis' Tiger Scholarship Fund grew in membership and donations all in his first year.

Prior to joining Memphis, Baker was Director of Athletics at Northwest Missouri State, where he directed one of the nation's top Division II athletic programs from February 2011-February 2013. Prior to his time at Northwest, he was the first-ever Director of Athletics at Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla., spending five years overseeing the growth of a start-up department into a very successful comprehensive program.

"We are very excited Wren is becoming a member of our team," said Rhoades. He is regarded as one of the up-and-coming administrators in the nation and has established an impressive track record of success at every stop of his career path. Throughout his career, Wren has demonstrated terrific work ethic, the ability to genuinely connect with people and uncompromising integrity. He is a high-energy person who will provide great passion and leadership for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. We are thrilled Wren, his wife Heather and two daughters, Addisyn and Reagan are joining the Mizzou Athletics family," said Rhoades.

"I am honored to be joining the Mizzou family and am grateful to Mack Rhoades for the opportunity," said Baker. "The University of Missouri has a tremendous reputation and Mack is considered one of the best and brightest leaders in collegiate athletics. Our family is looking forward to returning to the "Show-Me State" and joining Mack's team as we build on a proud and prestigious athletic tradition," he said.

At Northwest Missouri State, Baker led the department to greater operational efficiencies and improved customer service. During his tenure at Northwest, his team secured the largest gift in department history, and increased revenues by an impressive 60 percent during his time there.

From 2006-11, Baker was Director of Athletics at Rogers State, where he was the youngest A.D. in the nation at any four-year university. While at RSU, he was also the first men's basketball coach in school history, and promptly led the Hillcats to a 20-11 record in their first year of competition during the 2006-07 season. After one year as basketball coach, he relinquished those duties to focus on his administrative duties and continue the growth of RSU's overall athletics operation.

Prior to joining Rogers State, Baker became the youngest principal in the state of Oklahoma. At 26, he was named principal and athletic director for Valliant Public Schools in his hometown of Valliant, Oklahoma.

Before entering administration Baker served as a basketball operations assistant in the Oklahoma State University athletic department from 2001 to 2005, coordinating a variety of initiatives under the direction of former head men's basketball coach Eddie Sutton. During his four-year tenure at OSU, the men's basketball team recorded a 102-30 record that included a trip to the Final Four during the 2004 season.

Baker received his bachelor's degree in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2001 and his master's degree in education leadership from Oklahoma State University in 2003. He and his wife Heather were married in 2005. They have two daughters, Addisyn and Reagan.