Baker open to stakeholders voices, but the decision ultimately falls to him
West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker understands that in his position it's important to listen to all of the key stakeholders when it comes to coaching searches.
The job is to balance all of those opinions from a variety of people and places, whether that’s a donor, current player or anybody else associated with the opening. Obviously, when it comes to the players he has never walked into a locker room where they didn’t want somebody that was currently on the coaching staff.
“Because that’s what they know and there’s comfort in what you know,” he said.
Baker was asked about the candidacy of current associate head coach Chester Frazier, and while he wouldn’t comment on any individual names he did say that he would be open to looking at anybody that was interested in the job internally.
Currently, West Virginia only has five of six eligible returning players and are on spring break so there hasn’t been a full-team meeting with the current roster. The Mountaineers have had Ben Murray, who’s a sports program administrator, reaching out to those players.
Baker doesn’t expect there to be a need to name an interim head coach given the fact that the season has already concluded and for now the focus is on making sure things are taking care of academically.
But ultimately it will be Baker who pays the price for what the decision will eventually be.
“You see who’s up here with me today, just me,” Baker said at the podium.
Baker has to make the best hire possible in those circumstances which means making difficult choices on what’s best for the long-term health of the program. That means balancing all of those inputs with his own.
And that’s a process that Baker is hopeful can be completed in a rather quick fashion.
“I think this is a coaching search that we can execute pretty quickly. So hopefully in the near term, we have somebody in that's taking care of those things,” he said.
----------
• Talk about it with West Virginia fans on The Blue Lot.
• SUBSCRIBE todayto stay up on the latest on Mountaineer sports and recruiting.
• Get all of our WVU videos on YouTube by subscribing to the WVSports.com Channel
• Follow us on Twitter: @WVSportsDotCom, @rivalskeenan, @wesleyshoe
-
Despite a setback, Baker has trust in his process
Wren Baker has a list of qualities that he wants to find in any potential candidate when it comes to head coach openingsYahoo Sports - 1d -
Baker at peace with efforts to retain DeVries, focus now on search
West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker is at peace with his efforts albeit ultimately unsuccessful to retain previous head coach Darian DeVries. Baker felt that DeVries and his team had laid a ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Rapid recap: West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker on coaching search
West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker addressed the media ahead of the search for a new head basketball coach. --Baker said that he wanted to thank the team for this season. --Baker said he ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
LB Jerome Baker visits Browns
Linebacker Jerome Baker's search for a new team has taken him to Cleveland.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Baker respects timeline, responsibilities of potential candidates
West Virginia Athletic Director Wren Baker avoids timeframes when it comes to coaching searches. “I think this is a coaching search that we can execute pretty quickly,” he said. The Mountaineers ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Watch: WVU athletic director Wren Baker press conference 3/19/25
----------• Talk about it with West Virginia fans on The Blue Lot.• SUBSCRIBE today to stay up on the latest on Mountaineer sports and recruiting.• Get all of our WVU videos on YouTube by ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
What qualities could Baker be looking for in next West Virginia head coach?
West Virginia has been thrust back into the search for a head basketball coach. Darian DeVries exited the program after just one 19-13 season, leaving Athletic Director Wren Baker with the task of ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Darian DeVries set to depart WVU, leaving for head coach position at Indiana
Mar. 18—MORGANTOWN — For a third consecutive season, WVU athletic director Wren Baker will be conducting a head coaching search for the men's basketball program. Darian DeVries, who spent just one ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
How corporate America is ditching DEI without abandoning inclusion
Companies are shifting their focus from DEI initiatives to evidence-based decision-making frameworks to avoid controversy and maintain support from all stakeholders.The Hill - 3d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
NCAA tournament: No. 6 Ole Miss survives furious No. 11 North Carolina rally to eliminate Tar Heels
Ole Miss saw a 22-point lead cut to two in the second half, but held on to advance to the second round.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Fair or foul? Fighter sets Cage Warriors fastest knockout record after glove touch
Yannick Bahati put himself at the top of the record books in one of the world longest standing MMA promotions on Friday – but it wasn't without controversy. At Cage Warriors 186 from Indigo at The ...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Fair or foul? Fighter sets Cage Warriors fastest knockout record after glove touch
Yannick Bahati put himself at the top of the record books in one of the world longest standing MMA promotions on Friday – but it wasn't without controversy. At Cage Warriors 186 from Indigo at The ...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
WWE SmackDown results, highlights (Mar. 21): Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins tease WrestleMania 41 clash
"WWE SmackDown," held in Bologna, Italy, was all about the interaction between three of the company's biggest superstars: Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
WWE SmackDown results, highlights (Mar. 21): Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins tease WrestleMania 41 clash
"WWE SmackDown," held in Bologna, Italy, was all about the interaction between three of the company's biggest superstars: Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins.Yahoo Sports - 22m
More in Sports
-
Debating free agency: Which teams improved the most over the past two weeks?
We asked 10 experts to weigh in on the most improved teams, top bargains and head-scratching decisions.ESPN - 18m -
38 names to know for next year’s NFL free agent class: Who could end up available and get paid?
Who are the top names to know for next year's NFL free agency? Here's our list of who might be available and has a chance to get paid.ESPN - 18m -
Sources: Free agent QB Rodgers visits Steelers
Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers visited with the Steelers for approximately six hours at the team's practice facility on Friday, sources tell ESPN.ESPN - 19m -
Saints reunite with WR Cooks on two-year deal
Free agent receiver Brandin Cooks has signed a two-year deal with the Saints, the team announced Friday.ESPN - 19m -
Oilers' McDavid ruled out vs. Kraken, to have MRI
Oilers superstar captain Connor McDavid will undergo an MRI on Friday, one day after sustaining a lower-body injury in the second period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets.ESPN - 19m