July 8, 2005

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Valorie Baker, who served as head coach of the Wake Forest volleyball team the past five years, has resigned, Demon Deacon athletic director Ron Wellman confirmed today.

Baker has accepted a position as assistant athletic director for Harpeth Hall, a private all-girls school in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Valorie has been with us from the inception of our program, first as an assistant and then our head coach, and has done a very good job of building our program from scratch," said Wellman. "We are deeply appreciative of everything that she has given to our program over the last nine years."

Baker was an assistant coach at Wake Forest from 1996-1999 before taking over the reigns of the program in 2000. Since her head coaching debut, Baker led the Demon Deacons to an 89-65 overall record, which is the second best overall coaching record in the program's history. In the ACC, Baker compiled a 40-40 overall record, including two third-place finishes.

Under her guidance, Baker developed two AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections, four all-region selections and six All-ACC selections. In addition, she helped senior Christy Williams become the 2002 ACC Rookie of the Year.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience here at Wake Forest and the opportunity that Ron Wellman has provided," said Baker. "However, at this time in my life, I have another door that has opened that moves my career in a different direction that will be more beneficial for my family."

Baker came to Wake Forest after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Louisville. A native of Indiana, she earned her degree from Eastern Kentucky and a masters from Louisville.