Wren Baker, athletic director at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. since February 2011, has resigned from his position, effective Feb. 22. Baker has accepted the deputy athletic director of external affairs position at the University of Memphis and will begin those duties in early March.
Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said the University will conduct a national search to fill the director of athletics position. Lori Hopkins has agreed to serve as Northwest’s interim athletics director.
“During his tenure, Wren has led efforts for implementing a comprehensive approach to address increased revenue streams, and the results have been fantastic,” Jasinski said. “While he has high expectations on the field, more importantly, he has helped enhance an environment built to meet and exceed NCAA and institutional rules and an athletic program operating with integrity. I am most appreciative of Wren’s leadership.”
Baker said his transition to an NCAA Division I school allows him to further pursue his career aspirations.
“Our family has greatly enjoyed our time as Bearcats,” Baker said. “I am thankful for the time we’ve had at this tremendous institution. Northwest is a special place, and the people here have been great to us. Sometimes opportunity knocks when you least expect it. This is the case with the position at Memphis. When we arrived at Northwest, everywhere we went people would say ‘Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat.’ Without question, we will always be Bearcats.”
