Johnny Baker (guard)

For the player born 1941, see Johnny Baker (linebacker). For other people named John Baker, see John Baker (disambiguation).

Johnny Baker

Baker, c. 1945
Biographical details
Born	(1907-08-14)August 14, 1907 Denison, Iowa, U.S.
Died	February 6, 1979(1979-02-06) (aged 71) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1929–1931	USC
Position(s)	Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1933–1934	Iowa State Teachers
1935–1937	Omaha (line)
1938–1941	Grant Union HS (CA)
1942	Sacramento Junior College
1945	Fourth Air Force
1946	Los Angeles Dons (line)
1947	Denver (line)
1948–1952	Denver
1953–1956	Washington (assistant)
1957–1960	Sacramento State
Basketball
1935–1938	Omaha
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1957–1967	Sacramento State
Head coaching record
Overall	47–64–5 (college football)
Bowls	1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Consensus All-American (1931) Second-team All-American (1930) 2× First-team All-PCC (1930, 1931)
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1983 (profile)

John W. "Bake" Baker (August 14, 1907 – February 6, 1979) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Southern California, where he was a two-time All-American at guard. Baker served as the head football coach at Iowa State Teachers College—now known as the University of Northern Iowa—from 1933 to 1934, the University of Denver from 1948 to 1952, and Sacramento State College—now known as California State University, Sacramento—from 1957 to 1960, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 41–61–4. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1983.

Playing career

Baker earned varsity letters at USC in 1929, 1930, and 1931. He played in the 1930 and the 1932 Rose Bowl, kicking five points after touchdowns. He kicked the winning 33-yard field goal with one minute to go in USC's game against the Notre Dame in 1931. It was USC's first victory in South Bend. Baker was an all-conference first-teamer in 1930 and 1931 and was invited to participate in a demonstration game of American football at the 1932 Summer Olympics, but he declined. At USC, Baker was initiated as a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

Coaching career

After leaving USC, Baker coached football at Iowa State Teachers College, the University of Omaha, the University of Denver, Sacramento State College, University of Washington, and Sacramento City College. He was also the athletic director at Sacramento State.

Baker was the head football coach at Grant Union High School in Sacramento, California from 1938 to 1941. He was hired as the head football coach at Sacramento Junior College—now known as Sacramento City College in 1942, succeeding Harry Applequist.

Death and honors

Baker died of cancer on February 6, 1979, at a hospital in Sacramento.

Baker was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, the University of Southern California Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame in 2006.

Head coaching record

Football

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Iowa State Teachers Panthers (Iowa Conference) (1933–1934)
1933	Iowa State Teachers	3–6	2–2	6th
1934	Iowa State Teachers	3–3–2	1–0–2	4th
Iowa State Teachers:		6–9–2	3–2–2
Fourth Air Force Flyers (Army Air Forces League) (1945)
1945	Fourth Air Force	6–3–1	3–2–1	3rd	W Legion Bowl
Fourth Air Force:		6–3–1	3–2–1
Denver Pioneers (Skyline Six / Skyline Conference) (1948–1952)
1948	Denver	4–5–1	2–2	3rd
1949	Denver	4–6	2–2	3rd
1950	Denver	3–8–1	2–2–1	3rd
1951	Denver	6–4	4–3	3rd
1952	Denver	3–7	0–7	8th
Denver:		20–30–2	10–16–1
Sacramento State Hornets (Far Western Conference) (1957–1960)
1957	Sacramento State	5–4	2–3	4th
1958	Sacramento State	3–6	1–4	6th
1959	Sacramento State	2–7	1–4	5th
1960	Sacramento State	5–5	2–3	T–3rd
Sacramento State:		15–22	6–14
Total:		47–64–5

External links

• Johnny Baker at the College Football Hall of Fame