Wake Forest Athletics
Baker Chosen As Wake Forest Volleyball Coach
1/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Jan. 28, 2000
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Valorie Baker, the Deacon assistant volleyball coach for four years, has been named the team's head coach effective immediately Athletic Director Ron Wellman announced today. Baker replaces Mary Buczek, last season's ACC Coach of the Year, who left the program to take over the head duties at the University of Georgia.
Baker served as an assistant to Buczek since the program's rekindling in 1996. In those four years, the team has compiled a 64-59 record, including a 25-9 record a season ago. The team had its best ACC finish in 1999, earning a 10-6 mark and making the second round of the ACC Tournament for the first time in history.
"I'm very glad to be taking over the volleyball program," Baker said. "It's definitely a great opportunity and I am already excited about next season. We have a really talented team returning and I'm looking forward to competing for the conference title."
She arrived at Wake Forest after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Louisville. While at Louisville, Baker helped the Cardinals advance to the second round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament and a to a Conference USA title. She also served as a junior Olympic coach in Kentucky and Indiana prior to her time at Louisville.
A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Baker was a four-year scholarship athlete. She started for the Lady Colonels in all four of those seasons as an outside hitter and middle blocker.
