KENT, Ohio — Kent State is welcoming back one of its own, as head football coach Doug Martin announced Wednesday that Eugene Baker has been named an assistant coach for the Golden Flashes. A 2007 inductee into Kent State’s Varsity “K” Hall of Fame, Baker will work primarily with the wide receivers.
“We’re tremendously excited to be able to add unquestionably the best wide receiver in the history of the program to our coaching staff,” Martin said. “Eugene’s success here and his experience in the NFL will be a great asset as we continue to develop our wide receiving corps.”
The school’s career leader in receptions (229), yards (3,513) and touchdowns (35) — all by wide margins, Baker played for the Flashes from 1995-98 and was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection. His junior season, the Monroeville, Pa., native established program-bests with 103 catches for 1,549 yards and 18 touchdowns en route to earning third team All-America honors from Football News. His 9.36 receptions per game also led the NCAA that season.
Baker was selected in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He went on to play for five different teams over his seven-year career, including a stint with the Carolina Panthers during their run to Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2003.
Kent State wrapped up the 2009 campaign with a 5-7 overall mark and a 4-4 record in the MAC, finishing .500 or better in the conference for the third time in six seasons under head coach Doug Martin and for just the fifth time in the last 22 years. The Golden Flashes, who will have to replace three starters on offense and four from defense, are scheduled to open the 2010 campaign in Dix Stadium against Murray State Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
