Coach Baker leaves W. Soccer for Fla. St.

After five years at Penn, Bakes will coach in a top national conference. Patrick Baker, the coach who helped build Penn women's soccer into a successful program, will become the new head soccer coach at Florida State University. FSU officials announced December 22 that Baker, the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, accepted a job offer from the Atlantic Coast Conference school and will begin recruitment of new players early this month. In his five years at Penn, Baker compiled a 42-37-5 record. In 1997, the women's soccer team finished 13-5 -- the school's best record in history -- and was named ECAC champion. The high-profile nature of the job was a factor in luring Baker away from Penn. "The program has great potential to be a? nationally competitive women's soccer program," he said in statement posted on FSU's World Wide Web site. Baker's departure left some players with mixed feelings. "I'm happy for him, but I feel bad for the girls that are returning because they will miss him," said College senior Jacquelyn Flood, a 1997 honorable mention All-Ivy selection on defense. "But it's a super opportunity for him. I'm sure they will have lots of scholarships to give out," Flood added. Penn is currently searching for a coach to replace Baker, a process that could take up to three or four weeks. "We hope to get it done in time for spring recruitment," said Assistant Penn Sports Information Director Carla Shultzberg. Before coming to Penn, Baker achieved great success at North Carolina Wesleyan. He led N.C. Wesleyan to three NCAA Division III tournament appearances and top-10 finishes. Baker is also involved in the United States Youth Soccer Association. Over the last 12 years, he has served at all levels of the Olympic Development Program and also served as the USYSA South Region Coach from 1992 to 1995. In December, he was named the 1999 under-21 women's national team assistant coach. "We are very excited to have Patrick become a part of our national coaching staff," under-21 team head coach Lauren Gregg said in a statement from Penn Athletic Communications. "He brings with him a wealth of playing and coaching experience," she added. "He is well-respected on both the collegiate and Olympic Development Program coaching levels."