Baker, Arnie (2020)

Arnie Baker is a retired GRCH teacher and coach whose coaching career to date has spanned 50 years. He enjoyed teaching science at Oakdale Christian Middle School and GRCH for 38 years (1969-2007).  Arnie was one of the first football assistant coaches at Grand Rapids Central Christian, helping Hall of Fame member Bill Holwerda establish the football program there. In 34 seasons of coaching football, he served as varsity assistant, head JV coach, assistant JV coach, and head Freshman coach. In addition, he coached 24 seasons of middle school basketball and several seasons of middle school soccer, as well as middle school and high school track and field.  He has coached a total of 111 seasons (and counting) in those four sports at the two schools. 

Arnie’s favorite sport is track and field, which he has coached for 50 seasons. His first 15 seasons were at Oakdale Christian as the head track coach there. He then became the head coach of the boys track and field team at GRCH, a position he held for 30 seasons. For the past five seasons he has served as an assistant on the boys track and field team, driving from his home near Newaygo for practices and meets. “Dedication” is certainly a term that applies to Coach Baker.

As a track and field coach, Arnie has had success at a level enjoyed by few. His overall record in dual meets was 111-20. In the City League, his boys teams won 15 dual meet championships and 18 City League Finals Championships, as well as 3 Conference Championships after GRCH joined the OK League. Under Coach Baker, the boys teams won 5 Regional Championships. His boys team won the 2012 Michigan Track Coaches Association State Championship and he was assistant coach on the girls teams for their 2001, 2002, 2007, and 2017 State Championships, coaching the hurdlers and pole vaulters. He was selected to the MHSAA Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014. 

Coach Baker realized early in his coaching career that successful track and field teams needed depth, and during his coaching years the Eagles averaged 50-75 athletes each season. His goal each year was to have at least 25 freshmen on the team, a goal that was usually met. Arnold is also proud of leading the campaign to get the indoor pole-vaulting facility in the All-City Gym. 

Former colleagues of Arnie will doubtless recall his knowledgeable opinions and vigorous discussions on many topics, especially politics, current events, and the environment. His conversation about any of those would be passionate, quite possibly lengthy, and always with humor and good intent. 

Coach Baker’s fondest memories involve the athletes he coached and the colleagues with whom he worked. He stated, “The athletes I have had the privilege to coach have helped me lead such a rich, full, and memory-filled career.” Coach Baker has always loved teenagers and has been blessed to coach and teach so many of them. Even now, as he meets former team members the coach-athlete bond remains strong. Arnie gives credit to his great assistant coaches for the successes his teams enjoyed over many seasons. He especially enjoyed coaching with his good friend, Ken Bokhoven. “We had a lot of fun, a lot of success, and great respect for each other.” 

Arnie is enjoying retirement from teaching while continuing to assist with coaching GRCH track and field teams. He and his wife Karen live on the Muskegon River near Newaygo and have three children, Paul, Rachel, and Nathan, as well as three grandsons and one great-grandson. Living on the river allows Arnie to regularly engage in one of his favorite hobbies, fishing, as well as providing many recreational activities for the whole family.  

Arnie’s Favorite Scripture:  Revelation 7:9  
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.