By Bill Doyle, Staff Writer

November 9, 2014

Worcester, MA --- When Worcester State men's basketball coach Dave Lindberg was looking to hire an assistant coach for this season, he wanted someone he could trust. So he hired Paul Baker, who had coached him at Worcester State.

Baker, 53, is more known for coaching the Northbridge High boys' basketball team the past 19 years, including the last 15 as varsity coach, but he also coached the Lancers for three seasons in the late 1980s. Baker coached Lindberg for two years before Tom Moore took over as coach for Lindberg's senior year.

Lindberg replaced Moore five years later, and he's entering his 21st year as coach.

"He was the same as he is today," Lindberg said of Baker, "except he's a lot more experienced today. He was a high energy type guy. I liked to play for him. He's known for his kids playing very hard and executing well. "

Lindberg was a hard-nosed, defensive-minded off-guard for the Lancers.

"He was a very tough competitor," Baker said. "Not a finesse player."

Lindberg was a captain his last year under Baker. That team finished 13-13 after going 4-19 and 8-18 the previous two years.

"Back then," Lindberg said, "nobody was going to beat Salem in our conference."

Baker, who owns a real estate appraising business, enjoyed a successful run at Northbridge. Last year, his Rams finished 19-5 and reached the Clark Tournament final. Coaching high school left him the time to watch his daughter Ryan play basketball for Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire. Ryan graduated as the school's all-time leader in assists last spring.

"Once she graduated, I thought that was a great time to move to another level," Baker said.

"I had been getting a little bit restless the last few years," Baker said. "There's not an easier place to coach than Northbridge, great kids, very competitive kids. I enjoy coaching more now than I did 30 years ago. I was just up for a new challenge."

Part of the challenge at Worcester State is keeping his mouth shut. As the head coach, Lindberg has the final say.

"It is different," Baker said. "Everyone likes to call the shots so you have to learn to pick your spots as far as when to speak and you have to know your role. The kids can't hear too many voices."

Baker has had no problem working with Lindberg. "He's very knowledgeable," Baker said, "really knows the game inside and out."

Lindberg told Baker, a former Northbridge High and Assumption College guard, he could work with the backcourt players and have a lot of input.

"He wanted to have a role on our team," Lindberg said, "that wasn't just some guy sitting with a clipboard on the end of the bench."

How many of Baker's old Worcester State plays does Lindberg use?

"None, as a matter of a fact," Baker said with a laugh. "I'll have to speak to him about that."

Dan Koen returned for his third season as a Lancer assistant. He was the only assistant coach last season after Mitch Bajema left.

Baker sleeps less as a Worcester State coach because the team must practice at 6 a.m. at other colleges in the city until the Lancers' new gym opens in two years.

"You talk about a challenge," Baker said. "The challenge is getting up at 4:30."

Baker said he never had to wake up that early before, but he's found at least one positive about it.

"It's great for traffic," he said.

When Lindberg introduced Baker to the team as the new assistant coach, one of the players, senior forward Charles Gunter, recognized him. Gunter and his New Mission High of Boston beat Baker's Northbridge team in the Division 2 state final in 2011.

"I was like, 'Hey, how are you doing Coach, remember me?' " Gunter said, "and he was like, 'Of course, I remember you.' "

Baker hasn't held that game against Gunter.

Aaron Katz, Baker's junior varsity coach for the past 12 years, replaced him as varsity coach at Northbridge. Baker had replaced Katz's father, Don, as head coach.

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