Central's Dave Baker is the Dean of Blair County Football Coaches

Dave Baker is the head football coach at Central High School and is, by virtue of his longevity, the dean of Blair County coaches. He has been a head coach in Morrisons Cove for 41 years. The graduate of Central High (1963) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1967) originally took over the reins at Williamsburg High School in 1970, where was already a member of the faculty.

“The position opened up and I applied,” he recalled. “I have no idea how many other people wanted the job.”

More about that later.

Baker, the son of legendary Roaring Spring High School basketball coach Max Baker, has enjoyed remarkable gridiron success at Central, where he took over the program ten years ago. His record there is 81-37-0 and his teams have been consistent contenders for district titles. Last season the Scarlet Dragons posted an 8-1 record and he enters this year with great hopes for success as a new member of the Laural Highlands Athletic Conference.

“We have a strong nucleus of returning players, many of whom have achieved all-conference and all-state recognition,” he reports.

Earlier Baker had both joys and disappointments as head coach at Williamsburg. His 2000 team, for instance, suffered through a 1-9 season. That brought his overall record at the school to 124 wins, 162 loses, and 11 ties. But there had been great successes also. His 1984 and 1989 teams went undefeated. He looks back to the 1989 season with particular fondness.

“We really had a good team that year and went through the season with great success. In the playoffs we beat Bishop Carroll in the first round, but later lost to Laurel Valley in overtime. But, we had a great run that year.”

High School football coaching at schools like Central is a family affair. Wives suffer through losses and take solace in victories. Dave Baker’s wife, the former Nancy Snyder of Roaring Spring (Central graduate in 1964) has been a part of the ups and downs. When asked what advice she would give to a young wife whose husband has just been named a head football coach, she had three tips.

“First, accept the fact you will see little of your husband during the season. Second, at the games, try to ignore comments critical of him and his team, and finally, if any of your sons play for their father, develop a thick skin, in order to endure the inevitable criticism that comes with that particular situation.”

She talks from experience. The Baker’s three sons, Matt, Jay and Andrew, were all coached by their father.