Kenny Baker – who was originally hired in January 2020 as WKU's defensive ends coach – enters his third season on The Hill. He previously spent the 2019 season coaching defensive line at Chattanooga after five seasons in the same role at Mercer from 2014-18.
2021
Baker helped the WKU defense rank third in C-USA in sacks with 36, thanks in large part to defensive end DeAngelo Malone who was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Malone went on to be drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
2020
Baker helped the WKU defense rank eighth in pass yards allowed (177.3), 28th in total yards allowed (348.7) and 41st in points allowed (25.3) per game.
DeAngelo Malone repeated as a Conference USA First Teamer, producing 71 tackles – including 11 for loss – with six sacks, nine quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. Malone was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week and Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Senior of the Week after his performance at Florida Atlantic. He was also added to the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List during the season. Juwuan Jones posted another quality campaign, with 38 tackles – including five for loss – with two sacks, five quarterback hurries and three pass breakups.
Previous
In 2019 at Chattanooga, he coached some great players on the defensive line. Khayyan Edwards and Telvin Jones were both Second Team All-SoCon selections, while Devonnsha Maxwell was a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American. Edwards was third on the team with 48 tackles, six TFL’s and 2.5 sacks. Jones had 37 tackles and was second on the team with 6.5 TFL’s and 3.5 sacks. Maxwell was a First Team All-SoCon selection after leading the Mocs with seven sacks. He was also second in the league with 13 TFL’s. He also added 46 tackles and three quarterback hurries.
At Mercer, his defensive line played an important role in Mercer leading the SoCon in turnovers gained and turnover margin in 2017. Mercer managed to tally over 21 turnovers gained for four years in a row. The 2015 Mercer team was one of the best against the run in the SoCon. They allowed 171.3 rushing yards per game.
Prior to his days at Mercer, Baker was the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Berry College. He was the student assistant for Rusty Wright at the linebacker position in 2009. Baker also served as defensive coordinator at Augusta’s Lakeside High School from 2010-12.
Baker is a native of Cartersville, Ga., and chose to attend school at Gardner-Webb. He was a four-year letterman from 2005-08 and three-year starter on the defensive line. He was selected as a team captain and earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007. He earned a B.S. in Health & Physical Education in 2009 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Leadership from Mercer in 2018.
THE KENNY BAKER FILE
PERSONAL
Born: September 3, 1986
Hometown: Cartersville, Ga.
College: Gardner-Webb, ’09 and Mercer, '18
PLAYING CAREER (Defensive Lineman)
College: Gardner-Webb (2005-08)
COACHING CAREER
2010-12: Lakeside HS (Defensive Coordinator)
2013: Berry College (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2014-18: Mercer (Defensive Line)
2019: Chattanooga (Defensive Line)
2020: WKU (Defensive Ends)
2021-present: WKU (Defensive Line)
