Fitch names Baker coach

The Falcons’ new boys basketball coach comes to the Federal League school from Heath, near Newark.

By JOHN BASSETTI

Vindicator sports staff

AUSTINTOWN — Jason Baker impressed the Austintown Board of Education enough with his history of passion, preparation and thoroughness that he was hired as the new head boys varsity basketball coach at Fitch High School on Tuesday evening.

The 34-year-old Baker comes from Heath High School, near Newark in Licking County, east of Columbus.

Like he did at Heath, Baker promises to bring his energy, enthusiasm and optimism to a struggling basketball program.

Baker, a 1998 graduate of Muskingum College, coached high school basketball at Heath for six years.

He started the 2003-2004 season in charge of Heath’s junior varsity team, followed by the next five as head coach for the Bulldogs.

Baker’s 2006-07 team had only three wins, but Heath improved to win 10 games in 2007-08, then 13 in 2008-09.

Heath lost in its first tournament game last season, to Fredericktown, 67-62.

But in 2007-08, Heath won a tournament game, 71-70 over West Jefferson, before losing to state-ranked London Madison Plains in a sectional final.

Baker’s most recent season represented Heath’s most successful basketball campaign since the school joined the Mid-State League in 2003.

The Mid-State League comprises mostly Division II members.

Heath is a Division III school for boys basketball.

“Baker was one of 27 applicants for the Falcons’ head coaching position and came highly recommended from his colleagues and peers in the Newark area,” said Fitch athletic director Rob Conklin.

“He intends to establish a basketball program that will extend from Kindergarten through the varsity levels,” Conklin said.

Baker’s classroom positions have been in health & physical education at both the elementary and high school levels.

Baker replaces Roger Day. Fitch had a 3-18 record in 2008-09, including an 0-10 mark in the Federal League.

Day, who graduated from Poland High in 1995 and Youngstown State, was 11-74 in four seasons as the Falcons’ head coach. Fitch was 4-18 in 2007-08, including an 0-10 mark in the Federal League.

He succeeded Gary Conroy after serving as an assistant coach with the Fitch boys program for two seasons and the Fitch girls program for one season.

Baker is married to the former Dawn Less of Greenford Township in Mahoning County. They have two daughters, Maureen and Mary.

He began his coaching career at Solon High School in 2002-03, where he served as head basketball scout.

He also coached girls golf at Heath in 2005-06, and was assistant baseball coach there in 2004-05.