Coach Baker 'Never really had a plan'

Dave Baker never had a plan.

Not when he took a job as a biology teacher at Williamsburg Community High School right out of IUP in 1967 and wanted to coach a sport, any sport at any level, just to stay involved in athletics.

Not when he finally acquiesced to taking over as the Blue Pirates varsity football coach four years later, when Williamsburg was struggling to find someone to replace Jerry Campbell.

Not when he applied to succeed A.J. Hoenstine and guide Central back in 2011.

And certainly not in 2001, when, after 30 years leading Williamsburg, he became the victim of a recently enacted state rule that only allowed retirees to be a head coach under emergency circumstances.

However, his sweetheart since junior high and now his wife of 58 years, Nancy, had made the acquaintance of Dan Wilkins while working at Altoona Curve games. Wilkins had followed Ed Dalton to Altoona to serve as an assistant coach and then set off on his own to try to build something special at Chestnut Ridge, and he had an open spot on his staff for someone local with experience.

“It just sort of happened,” Baker said. “We’ve all had things like that happen. Something happens that determines your life.”

Baker realizes if not for that bit if serendipity, he probably wouldn’t have ended up as a head coach again 10 years later at his alma mater, where his career underwent a resurgence and the Scarlet Dragons went from a good program to one of the best in Pennsylvania, capturing seven District 6 titles and advancing to the PIAA semifinals four times, including 2021 and 2022.

Citing increasing health problems that he doesn’t want to risk manifesting while he was on the sidelines – he’s diabetic and has increasing challenges with mobility – Baker, who will turn 79 in a couple of months, submitted his resignation to Central on Feb. 2.

Baker left his post with 119 wins over 13 seasons to set his final career mark at 245-211-11, but that number pales in comparison to the young lives he has impacted.

“He’s a very special man. He treats everybody with kindness and respect. He also commands that respect,” said Jeff Hoenstine, who became one of the most prolific high school passers in Pennsylvania history in his four years playing for Baker before eventually getting a chance to play Division I college ball at St. Francis University. “It was a great honor playing for him. I learned a lot.”

The Bakers will be hosting a gathering for players, coaches, friends and opponents at The Bistro at the Village Green in Martinsburg on March 2 from 3-7 p.m. One person almost sure to be there is former Dragon head coach A.J. Hoenstine, who finally secured Baker’s assistance helping build his defense after several years of prodding in the early 2000s before eventually turning over the reins of the team to Baker completely and working on his staff instead.

“I knew he had some good years left and we had some talented players on the way. The first year he came our defense improved immensely and he obviously played a huge part in that,” A.J. Hoenstine said. “The players respected him and loved some of his old school sayings and methods. Dave always preached toughness to them and they took that to heart.”

When the elder Hoenstine decided to put down the headset in 2011 to focus on coaching baseball, Baker threw his hat in the ring to be his successor even though most of his coaching peers from the 1970s had long since left the game and the grind.

He did so with the same spontaneous, almost nonchalant, approach that seemed paradoxical for a man whose teams were noted for their grit, precision and ability to perform fundamental concepts at a level that approached perfection.

“They asked me how long I would stay,” Baker recalled of his interview at Central. “I told them more than one year and less than 10.”

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether Baker is serious or if it’s just his dry wit. Even his grin is hard to discern in trying to make a determination.

Still, Baker, who has three sons of his own – Jay, Matt and Andy – with their own kids, seemed to find a way to connect with players younger than some of his own grandkids.

Hunter Smith was a standout linebacker and running back on four Scarlet Dragon District 6 championship squads from 2020 through 2023. His last two years, he made all-state on defense.

“He tried to [relate to us] as best as he could, considering how much older he was. He tried to keep up to date with us and use our terms,” Smith said. “He always taught us to work hard. To never go short in what we can do. He was always telling us to never stop.”

It resonated with Smith, who scored five touchdowns in Baker’s last win against Clearfield in double-overtime in the playoffs this season.

Baker knew how to be serious, but he balanced his demeanor with wry humor.

He managed to find ways to get the job done without being overbearing.

Smith recalled Baker telling him and his teammates that doing 100 up-downs at the beginning of practice were crucial to the Green Bay Packers’ run to multiple NFL championships under Vince Lombardi as his coach put the Dragons through the same regimen.

“We thought it was crap,” Smith said with a chuckle. “We just wanted to get them done.”

Not even members of the Dragon coaching staff were immune from Baker’s measured snark.

A.J. Hoenstine recalled Baker’s installation of his goal-line defense when the product of the first Central graduating class that spent all four years at the joint high school in 1963 arrived back with the Scarlet Dragons as an assistant football coach.

“I asked him, ‘what if the other team lines up in this formation and runs this play?’ He said, ‘then they are going to score a touchdown,’” Hoenstine recalled. “He was a big believer in the ‘KISS’ method – Keep It Simple, Stupid.”

Colleagues, players and others, though, placed respect, consideration and professionalism high on the list of words to describe Baker.

“Coach Baker was always easy to work with,” Spring Cove athletic director Stacy Kuster said. “He was very cooperative and understanding when dealing with PIAA and district policies. I always valued his opinion on league matters pertaining to football because he often had valuable insight to share. I will miss our casual conversations.”

Baker wasn’t above disciplining a star player or even sitting them even at the cost of winning. Players knew that while their venerable coach had a softer side, rules were rules and expectations and standards didn’t change, no matter how talented you were.

“He definitely made me earn it, for sure,” Jeff Hoenstine said. “Nothing was handed to me.”

Through almost 60 years as a coach in multiple sports – 45 as a head football coach –Baker stayed steady and consistent, making him the ideal cornerstone for a program.

What he valued the most from his time on the sidelines was revealing. Baker led teams to seven D6 titles, nine league or division championships and four trips to the state semifinals. Yet none of those achievements ranked among the thing that made him proudest.

“At Williamsburg, we once went 23 years in a row where we didn’t have to cancel a JV game because we didn’t have enough players,” Baker said. “I thought that was really good.”

So what will Baker do now, now that his fall Friday evenings are free for first time since elementary school? Well, he couldn’t tell you.

He has grandchildren living across the commonwealth and even in other states he can go watch play now. He still has his friends coaching and players who still will be playing for the Scarlet Dragons, so you might find yourself sitting next to him in the stands at the Roaring Spring Athletic Field.

He might just relax at home in Roaring Spring.

“I feel no obligations,” Baker said. “We’ll just see what Nancy wants to do and can do and what I want to do and can do.”

The truth is, Baker is just going to play it by ear.

And why not? It’s worked out pretty well for him so far.

“I don’t really have any plans,” Baker said.