Wren Baker was named the University of North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics on July 29, 2016. He wasted no time making an impact on the Mean Green and has spearheaded one of college athletics' most remarkable turnaround stories over the past two years.
The 2017-18 academic year was one for the record books with the Mean Green recording conference championships in volleyball, women's soccer and football (west division). The men's basketball program captured the CBI championship under first-year coach Grant McCasland. Overall, the winning percentage achieved by the Mean Green was the best mark in 40 seasons of competition. The football, men's and women's basketball teams all had winning season for the first time since 1977-78.
UNT has also reached new heights in the classroom under Baker's leadership, posting back-to-back-to-back department Graduation Success Rate (GSR) records. Eleven of 14 programs recorded a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in 2016-17 and again in 2017-18.
The Mean Green recently completed the most successful fundraising year in school history, nearly doubling the previous department record. The banner year culminated with the announcement of the two largest gifts in UNT athletics history.
During Baker's tenure the department unveiled a new five-year strategic plan, developed a new master facilities plan, launched construction on two new athletic facilities, renovated seven other athletics facilities, completed a reorganization of athletics staff, and negotiated lucrative contracts for multi-media rights, licensing and apparel/equipment.
Baker has proven to be a tactical recruiter when it comes to the critical task of hiring successful head coaches. During his career as an athletic director, he has led 16 head coach searches. Those searches have resulted in coaches who have combined to win over 70 percent of their games.
Baker boasts a proven track-record of success, having played a critical role in the success of athletics programs at the University of Memphis and the University of Missouri before coming to Denton.
Baker was hired as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Missouri in 2015 after serving in a similar role at Memphis from 2013-2015. At Missouri he was responsible for assisting the athletic director with all aspects of administration, including head coaching searches in football and baseball. He led the athletic department's external relations team, including development, marketing, licensing, the ticket office and strategic communications. During his first year at Missouri, Baker oversaw the implementation of a new annual fund model and restructured the external team. Shortly after Baker's arrival in Denton, Mizzou announced the completion of a record fundraising year. He also served as the interim director of athletics at Missouri before accepting a leadership position at UNT.
During Baker's tenure at Memphis, the Tigers secured the largest gift in the university's history and posted the best fundraising year in history, set a school record for suite sales and multi-media rights revenue, and grew Memphis' scholarship fund. He was the sport program administrator for men's basketball and also worked closely with former head football coach Justin Fuente during a two-year run that included the Tigers' first conference championship in football in over four decades.
From 2011 to 2013, Baker was athletic director at NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State, where he secured the largest gift in the athletic department's history. Under Baker, Northwest Missouri saw its revenues increase by an incredible 60 percent. At Northwest, Baker hired head football coach Adam Dorrel who led the Bearcats to three consecutive national championships.
From 2006 to 2011, Baker was the first athletic director at Rogers State in Claremore, Okla., where he was also the first men's basketball coach in school history. His team went 20-11 in its first season, after which Baker relinquished his coaching duties to concentrate on his administrative duties. RSU posted a nearly 70% winning percentage during Baker's tenure despite being a start-up athletic program.
In 2005, he became principal and athletic director for Valliant Public Schools and, at age 26, was the youngest principal in Oklahoma history.
Originally from Valliant, Okla., Baker earned his bachelor's degree in education from Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2001 and his master's degree in education leadership from Oklahoma State in 2003. At SOSU, he was a member of the Honor's Program and was recognized as an Honor's Program Graduate. At Oklahoma State, Baker was a graduate assistant and then basketball operations assistant for the Cowboys' men's basketball program under legendary head coach Eddie Sutton. During Baker's time with the OSU Men's basketball program, the team recorded 102-30 record, reaching 4 NCAA tournaments and advancing to the 2004 Final Four and the 2005 Sweet Sixteen.
Baker and his wife Heather, a native of Bokchito, Okla., have two daughters, Addisyn and Reagan.