Trussville City Schools is proud to welcome Jeff Baker to Trussville where he will serve as a Varsity Boys Head Basketball coach and HTHS Social Studies teacher. Baker has won four State Championships, coached in five State Championship games, won nine regional titles, and has coached 12 players who went on to play on the college level. He also was named State coach of the year in 2014 by the Alabama Sportswriter's Association.
Coach Baker stated, "It is such an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead the boys' basketball program at Hewitt-Trussville. Clearly there is an expectation for excellence in the Trussville community. I relish the opportunity to build a basketball program at Hewitt-Trussville that represents the community well. I can't wait to get to work with the young men in our program. Our primary focus is going to be on competition - competing in practices, skill work, games, conditioning, and the classroom. Out of that I believe we will ultimately get the results we want on and off the court and in the lives of our players."
Baker comes to Trussville from Calvary Christian School in Columbus, GA. He served as Assistant Principal and Head Boys Basketball coach. Last season, his team doubled its win total from the previous season and won the schools' first region championship in 11 years. The final four appearance was also the schools' first in 11 years.
Prior to his time in Georgia, Baker served as Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Head Boys Basketball coach at Shoals Christian. From 2012-2015 Baker worked at Restoration Academy in Birmingham serving as a teacher, athletic director, and head Basketball coach. His team won two state titles and three region championships.
Baker started his coaching journey at Whitefield Academy in Atlanta. He was head of the History department and was a Varsity Basketball assistant coach. His teams won two state titles and four region championships.
From Trussville City Schools Athletics Director Lance Walker, "We are happy to welcome Jeff and his family to Trussville. I was impressed by the plan he has for our Basketball program from the youth level through High School. Coach Baker has a history of preparing young men for life through basketball. He has passion for the game and a vision for Hewitt-Trussville Basketball. Today is an exciting day for Husky hoops!"
Tonya Hunter, the HTHS Girls Varsity Basketball Coach said, "I'm excited to welcome Jeff Baker, his wife, and kids to the Husky Basketball family and the Trussville community."
Baker graduated from Glynn Academy High School in Brunswick, GA in 2002. He earned a Baseball scholarship to Young Harris Junior College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Georgia in 2006. He later added a Master's degree in teaching from Georgia State University in 2012. Baker and his wife Carrie have three children William (4 years old), Lawson (1), and Annie (6 months).
There will be a meet and greet with Coach Baker on Thursday April 26 from 3:30-5:30pm outside the front of Hewitt-Trussville High School. HTHS Boys Basketball tryouts will be held May 15-17 from 5pm-7pm each day.
