For the primary time in over 10 seasons, there will probably be a brand new face main the Eastside ladies basketball program.
It was introduced this previous week that longtime assistant coach Rodrick Baker earned the promotion to turn into the following head coach of the Woman Eagles.
Baker had been an assistant on former head coach Gladys King’s workers for the reason that 2017-18 season.
Eight seasons later, Baker shared the way it felt to get the promotion to go coach.
“I moved over and thought this is perhaps alternative, I am excited,” Baker stated. “I’m excited to see what we will do within the coming years.”
Even by way of the joy, Baker shared how the top coach place was not at all times one he had his eye on.
“To be sincere with you, it was by no means on my checklist of issues to do — targets and aspirations,” Baker stated. “The chance got here and I felt like I’m up for the job. I’m excited in regards to the ladies we’ve coming again, their skills and simply wanting ahead to bettering on what we’ve finished.”
Throughout his tenure as an assistant, Baker had been part of many Woman Eagles groups that made it to the area event in addition to the state event.
With the assistant place being his first cease as a coach, Baker shared how the final eight seasons have helped put together him for this second.
“It positively gave me a basis. A system to start out with,” Baker stated. “I wish to construct on what we’ve been doing the previous few years. I’ve been simply as a lot part of this system as anybody else. I’ve seen the ups and downs. I do know what we had final yr and I do know what we’re on the lookout for subsequent yr. I feel simply being round has ready me for what we’re in a position to do.”
Baker is a Covington native who graduated from Newton County Excessive College earlier than then graduating from the College of Auburn.
For Baker, it’s a privilege to now be a head coach in the identical neighborhood he grew up in.
“That was one of many promoting factors in my interview. I’m residence grown, that is the place I grew up,” Baker stated. “I do know the neighborhood, I used to be round earlier than Eatsside. I’m excited to have the ability to coach in entrance of my hometown.”
The Woman Eagles have appeared to be on a gentle rise the previous few seasons.
The group has made the state playoffs in every of the final two seasons together with a pair of third place finishes in area play.
With Baker’s familiarity with the roster and this system, the first-year coach is raring for what the Woman Eagles can do in 2025-26.
“The final two years we’ve made it to state and I’m enthusiastic about our gamers coming again as a result of I really feel like we will construct on that,” Baker stated. “I feel we will make it previous the primary spherical of state and make enhancements and adjustments. Simply constructing on what we’ve finished previously.
