Kirt Adds Marty Baker to Staff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee head coach Joe Kirt announced the addition of Marty Baker to his staff as an assistant coach on Thursday.

A Knoxville native, Baker previously spent two seasons with the Lady Vols, joining the program in the spring of 2017 as a graduate manager before being elevated to volunteer assistant in the fall.

Baker spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at VCU, where he helped guide the Rams to a 73-17-13 record and a 2021 Atlantic 10 Championship.

In 2022, he coached goalkeeper Whitney Horton, who recorded eight shutouts and posted a goals-against average of .855 en route to earning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week honors on two occasions. Horton never started a game for VCU prior to her senior season when she started every match and ranked fourth in the nation in total minutes.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Marty Baker back to our coaching staff where he will step back in and work closely with our goalkeepers," said Kirt.

"Marty played a major role in the success of our goalkeepers and program in 2017 and 2018, developing UT standout goalkeeper Shae Yanez and helping prepare her for a successful professional career. He's also distinguished himself at VCU, coaching goalkeeper Grace Young to All-Atlantic 10 First Team honors as the Rams claimed a regular season championship in 2021. Having spent time at UT as a student and on staff, Marty bleeds orange, and his passion for Tennessee is evident in everything he does!"

During his first season on Rocky Top, Baker assisted Kirt with goalkeeper coaching duties and scouting reports, helping guide the Vols to a 15-4-2 record as UT made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.

In 2018, UT finished the season 16-3-3 overall and made the program's first-ever NCAA Quarterfinal appearance as Tennessee's stout defensive unit limited opponents to a program-best 15 goals allowed.

While in Knoxville, Baker also served as a goalkeeper coach at the local FC Alliance Soccer Club from 2013-2018.

As a player, he spent three summers with the Knoxville Force of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The goalkeeper helped lead the club to the playoffs for the first time in 2016 before winning the Southeast Division and setting a team record for wins in 2017.

A two-time graduate of the University of Tennessee, Baker earned his bachelor's degree in Sport Management in 2014 and went on to receive his master's in the same discipline in 2017. He graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School where he was named an All-District goalkeeper.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Related Videos