TicketsCINCINNATI - Former University of Cincinnati men's basketball player and later coach Tay Baker turned 90-years old Sunday.
On the hardwood, Baker came off the bench for three seasons (1948-50) to help the Bearcats compile a 60-18 record and claim a trio of Mid-American Conference crowns.
On the sideline, Baker served on UC's coaching staff for 13 consecutive seasons from 1959-1972. He joined the program as an assistant coach under George Smith for the 1960 campaign and remained an assistant under Ed Jucker for five seasons (1961-1965) before serving as the Bearcats' head coach for seven years (1966-1972).
As an assistant, Baker helped guide the Bearcats to four NCAA Final Fours and two national championships (1961 and 1962). As a head coach, Baker registered a 125-60 mark, winning the 1966 Missouri Valley Conference championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Texas Western (UTEP).
Baker was inducted into UC's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
Baker also served as Xavier's men's basketball coach from 1974 through 1979 and later held the title of executive director and board member at the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association.
On the hardwood, Baker came off the bench for three seasons (1948-50) to help the Bearcats compile a 60-18 record and claim a trio of Mid-American Conference crowns.
On the sideline, Baker served on UC's coaching staff for 13 consecutive seasons from 1959-1972. He joined the program as an assistant coach under George Smith for the 1960 campaign and remained an assistant under Ed Jucker for five seasons (1961-1965) before serving as the Bearcats' head coach for seven years (1966-1972).
As an assistant, Baker helped guide the Bearcats to four NCAA Final Fours and two national championships (1961 and 1962). As a head coach, Baker registered a 125-60 mark, winning the 1966 Missouri Valley Conference championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion Texas Western (UTEP).
Baker was inducted into UC's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
Baker also served as Xavier's men's basketball coach from 1974 through 1979 and later held the title of executive director and board member at the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association.