PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Dec. 17, 2018) – Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash has announced that Henry Baker will join the staff as the cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator. This is the second stint with the Scarlet Knights for Baker, who coached the cornerbacks in 2017.
"We are excited to have Henry back at Rutgers,” said Ash. "He is a great coach and excellent mentor. Henry will continue to help us recruit and develop the outstanding young men in our program."
A native of Paterson, N.J., Baker spent last season at North Carolina coaching the cornerbacks. He served six years on the staff at Delaware from 2011-16.
In 2017 with Rutgers, Baker helped a defensive unit make marked improvements, including posting 12 interceptions, which were four more than the previous season. Cornerback Damon Hayes earned All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media that season as he tied the team lead with 10 pass breakups.
Baker coached cornerbacks for six seasons with the Blue Hens and served as special teams coordinator in 2012. In 2016, he was part of a defensive staff that ranked No. 19 nationally in fewest passing yards allowed per game (181.5), No. 21 in interceptions (15) and first overall as a team in fewest penalties per game (3.64). Baker helped mentor cornerback Nasir Adderley to Third Team All-Colonial Athletic Association.
In 2015, Delaware ranked No. 3 in the CAA (22nd in NCAA) in scoring defense (20.5) and was fifth in total defense (329.2/24th in NCAA), as cornerback Justin Watson picked up All-CAA status. During the 2014 season, UD ranked No. 4 in the CAA in passing defense, allowing just 197.2 yards per game.
Baker arrived at Delaware after serving as defensive backs coach at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) in 2010. The Warriors allowed just 194.0 yards passing per game while registering a 130.5 defensive passing rating during the 2010 campaign.
Prior to his one-year stint at ESU, Baker served two seasons (2008-09) under head coach Ralph Friedgen at Maryland, which included the 2009 Rowdy Humanitarian Bowl championship team that finished with an 8-5 record. He was the interim inside linebackers coach for the Terrapins' bowl game and worked with the secondary, linebackers and special teams during his time in College Park.
A four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at defensive back at Maryland from 1994-97, Baker earned his bachelor's degree in sociology in 2003.
Baker previously served as Maryland's recruiting intern in 2001 and has high school coaching experience at Eastside High School in Paterson, N.J. (2003, 2005-06) and South Miami (Fla.) High School in 2007 before returning to his alma mater. His time at Eastside included an appearance in the New Jersey Group IV Section 1 state championship game.
He also spent extensive time in professional football, landing in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, and competed in the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs and Carolina Cobras and AFL2 with the Norfolk Nighthawks and Albany Firebirds.
Baker served in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Detroit Lions during the 2015 preseason camp and in 2016 with the New York Giants.
Baker and his wife, Theresa, have a son, Khari, and daughters Kaila and Khloe.
"We are excited to have Henry back at Rutgers,” said Ash. "He is a great coach and excellent mentor. Henry will continue to help us recruit and develop the outstanding young men in our program."
A native of Paterson, N.J., Baker spent last season at North Carolina coaching the cornerbacks. He served six years on the staff at Delaware from 2011-16.
In 2017 with Rutgers, Baker helped a defensive unit make marked improvements, including posting 12 interceptions, which were four more than the previous season. Cornerback Damon Hayes earned All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media that season as he tied the team lead with 10 pass breakups.
Baker coached cornerbacks for six seasons with the Blue Hens and served as special teams coordinator in 2012. In 2016, he was part of a defensive staff that ranked No. 19 nationally in fewest passing yards allowed per game (181.5), No. 21 in interceptions (15) and first overall as a team in fewest penalties per game (3.64). Baker helped mentor cornerback Nasir Adderley to Third Team All-Colonial Athletic Association.
In 2015, Delaware ranked No. 3 in the CAA (22nd in NCAA) in scoring defense (20.5) and was fifth in total defense (329.2/24th in NCAA), as cornerback Justin Watson picked up All-CAA status. During the 2014 season, UD ranked No. 4 in the CAA in passing defense, allowing just 197.2 yards per game.
Baker arrived at Delaware after serving as defensive backs coach at East Stroudsburg (Pa.) in 2010. The Warriors allowed just 194.0 yards passing per game while registering a 130.5 defensive passing rating during the 2010 campaign.
Prior to his one-year stint at ESU, Baker served two seasons (2008-09) under head coach Ralph Friedgen at Maryland, which included the 2009 Rowdy Humanitarian Bowl championship team that finished with an 8-5 record. He was the interim inside linebackers coach for the Terrapins' bowl game and worked with the secondary, linebackers and special teams during his time in College Park.
A four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at defensive back at Maryland from 1994-97, Baker earned his bachelor's degree in sociology in 2003.
Baker previously served as Maryland's recruiting intern in 2001 and has high school coaching experience at Eastside High School in Paterson, N.J. (2003, 2005-06) and South Miami (Fla.) High School in 2007 before returning to his alma mater. His time at Eastside included an appearance in the New Jersey Group IV Section 1 state championship game.
He also spent extensive time in professional football, landing in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, and competed in the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs and Carolina Cobras and AFL2 with the Norfolk Nighthawks and Albany Firebirds.
Baker served in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Detroit Lions during the 2015 preseason camp and in 2016 with the New York Giants.
Baker and his wife, Theresa, have a son, Khari, and daughters Kaila and Khloe.
