Friday, May 22, 2020
North Idaho College Athletics Director Bobby Lee announced the selection of Korina Baker as the interim head women’s basketball coach for 2020-21.
“Korina is a former standout athlete at NIC and will bring that championship mentality to the program,” Lee said. “As an assistant coach in the program these past years, she knows the returning student-athletes and has been the lead recruiter in creating the team for 2020-21.”
Baker, a two-year starter for the Cardinals who earned NJCAA Region 18 1st Team Honors as a sophomore, was the starting point guard on the NIC National Championship women’s basketball team that swept the 2011 NJCAA national tournament by an average victory margin of 20 points.
Following graduation from NIC, Baker transferred to NCAA Division Southern Methodist University for the 2012-14 seasons. As a junior, Baker helped the Mustangs win the title in Conference USA, and her team advanced to the Women's National Invitational Tournament. In Baker's senior season, SMU switched conferences to the American Athletic Conference, competing with traditional national powers UConn, Cincinnati, Temple, Houston, and Wichita State.
Baker earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from SMU and returned to the Inland Northwest after graduation. She has a young son, Aiden.
“Korina is excited about this opportunity,” Lee said. “And I look forward to helping her in all that she needs.”
She replaces retiring, longtime NIC women’s basketball coach Chris Carlson.
For more information on North Idaho College Athletics, visit www.nicathletics.com.