Jim Baker

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Jim Baker finished up his 16th season as the head coach of the men's basketball program at Catawba in 2009-10.  During his tenure, Baker has guided the Indians to the NCAA II Tournament nine times. His teams have won nearly 65% of their games and have an impressive home record of 181-51 (78%). Catawba has a 99-58 record in games decided by five points or less under coach Baker. Under Baker, Catawba has produced three conference Players of the Year and two All-Americans. The Indians have graduated 49 of 53 seniors under Baker.

Catawba advanced to the NCAA II Regionals for the fourth straight time in 2009-10.  The Tribe won league titles in 2007 and 2010, while winning back-to-back SAC Tourament titles in 2008 and 2009.  Catawba has won a league or tournament championship in six of the last seven seasons. 

In 2006-07, Baker was voted SAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time as Catawba won the league title and earned a spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament.  In 2004-05, Baker earned SAC Coach of the Year honors as the Indians claimed the conference title and advanced to the NCAA II Tournament. In 2004, Catawba became the lowest seed (#7) to win the league tournament, earning a regional tournament berth. After a 25-5 season and a third South Atlantic Conference title in 2001, Baker was named league Coach of the Year.

Baker was named SAC and NCAA II Region Coach of the Year in 1998, after Catawba posted a 25-6 record. He also earned SAC Coach of the Year honors in 1996, after he guided the Indians to their first conference title since 1983. His 16 victories in his first season was the most ever for a first-year basketball coach at Catawba. He has a 264-145 record over his first 14 seasons and ranks second all-time in coaching victories at Catawba.

Baker came to Catawba from Virginia Military Institute, where he had been an assistant coach for two seasons. He also had NCAA Division I experience as an assistant at Virginia Tech (1989-91) and Davidson (1981-89). Baker came to Catawba in June 1993, as an assistant coach during Sam Moir’s final campaign as head coach. Moir retired in May 1994, ending a great 34-year career at Catawba.

Baker, a dean’s list student at Catawba before graduating in 1978, played for Moir from 1975-78. He transferred from UNC-Charlotte and was a part of two 20-win seasons at Catawba. He was a member of the 1976-77 Carolinas Conference Championship team and three of his former teammates, Benny Callahan, Eric Harris and Herman Miles are in the Catawba Sports Hall of Fame.

Baker began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Moir in 1978-79 and at Wingate the next year, while earning a master’s degree in human development and learning at UNC-Charlotte. He was also an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey (1980-81).

Baker worked under Bobby Hussey at Davidson, Frankie Allen at Virginia Tech and Joe Cantafio at VMI. At Davidson, Baker was part of a program which graduated 25 of 26 student athletes. In addition, the Wildcats put together back-to-back 20-win seasons (1986-87) and appeared in the 1986 NCAA Southeast Regional.

While Baker was at Virginia Tech, the Hokies became only the third team in Metro Conference history to sweep both Memphis State and Louisville in the same year. At VMI, Baker was responsible for recruiting, scouting, practice and bench coaching, public speaking, summer camps and scheduling. All of VMI’s seniors graduated during Baker’s stay there and he was part of an outstanding recruiting class in 1992-93, which saw three freshmen make the starting lineup.

In addition to editing and publishing a monthly basketball newsletter (“Time Out”), Baker has published four booklets: “Power Post Play,” “Striving for Excellence,” and “The Best of Time Out, Books One and Two.” This year, Baker released a one of a kind basketball CD-Rom “The Best of Time Out”.

Baker’s ties to the international players in his program come from doing camps and clinics abroad. He has conducted both camps and clinics in Belgium, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Barbados and Costa Rica over the past 18 years. He has also served as the U.S. advisor to the Belgium Women’s Olympic basketball team.

Baker comes from a strong sports family. Both his mother and father were outstanding athletes and his dad, Walt, coached him at North Rowan High School where he graduated in 1974. The field house at North Rowan is named in his dad’s honor. His brother, Chip, is a longtime assistant baseball coach at Florida State.

Baker and his wife, the former Tina Waters, reside in Concord. They have four children, Jamie (11), Madison (8), Hannah (7) and Jacob (2).

Bill Haggerty

Bill Haggerty wrapped up his 23rd season as an assistant coach for the Catawba men’s basketball team in 2009-10. In addition to his duties under coach Baker, Haggerty assists in the coordination and promotion of Catawba’s summer basketball camps, and has been active in securing basketball game sponsorships. Since 2000, Haggerty served as head coach for the Catawba cross country teams. Twice he has guided the men to a tie for second place and has had a runner qualify for the NCAA II Nationals four times. He was the first Catawba coach to be associated with two programs involved in NCAA Regionals in the same year, as the men’s basketball team also made the NCAAs in 2000-01.

Prior to his current position, Haggerty coached the women’s basketball team at Catawba (1984-87), turning a near-winless situation into a respectable program. Haggerty’s best year with the Lady Indians was 1985-86, when he led Catawba to a 17-15 record, setting 30 school records in the process. He joined coach Sam Moir on the men’s basketball staff in July 1987.

A 1979 Catawba graduate, Haggerty took the women’s basketball position at Catawba after serving as recreation director for Jefferson Township, NJ. He was also assistant coach in basketball, football and softball at Jefferson Township High School. He was born in New York City’s Bronx, but his family moved to Oak Ridge, NJ, during his childhood. Haggerty graduated form Jefferson Township High School, where he was a runner on a state championship cross country team and played basketball. He later returned to his former school to coach another cross country state champion.

Before transferring to Catawba, Haggerty attended Morris County Community College in New Jersey, where he also ran cross country and earned All-America honors. He ran in numerous marathons, including Boston and New York City. Haggerty earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Catawba.

Haggerty resides in Advance with his wife, Carolyn, who returned to school and graduated from Catawba in 1994. They have a daughter, Amanda, and two sons, Jared and Travis.

Marvin Moore

Marvin Moore finished his ninth season as an assistant coach with the Catawba men’s basketball program in 2009-10. He returned to Catawba after serving as an assistant for two years at Hertford County High School.

Moore is a 1999 graduate of Catawba, earning a bachelor of arts degree in physical education. After graduation, he played professionally in Europe in Sweden and Monaco.

While at Catawba, he was a three-time All-SAC performer as the Indians posted an 83-33 record and advanced to the NCAA II regional tournament on two occasions. As a senior, Moore was the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, setting a league record by scoring 650 points. He was also named all-region and All-American as well as being selected as the SAC Male Athlete Year for the 1998-99 year. He was inducted to the SAC Hall of Fame in May of 2004.

Moore ranks 11th all-time at Catawba in scoring with 1,556 points. He holds school records for steals in a game, season and career and ranks fourth all-time in assists. At Hertford County High School, Moore was named all-conference and team MVP and helped the Bears to a conference title.

Moore resides in Concord with his wife, Jessica.  They have a daughter, Sydney (1).

Freddie Lynn

Freddie Lynn concluded his tenth season as an assistant coach with the Catawba Men’s Basketball program in 2009-10.  He is graduate of Campbell University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

After graduation, Lynn played professionally for 16 years in Europe, 15 in Belgium and one season in France.  While at Campbell, Lynn helped the Camels to one of their best seasons with a 25-6 campaign. 

Lynn played at North Rowan High School for Walt Baker and helped the Cavaliers to their first NPC Championship.  He resides in Salisbury.

Greg McKenzie

Greg McKenzie finished his first season as an assistant coach with the Catawba Men’s Basketball program in 2009-10.  He joined the staff after a successful five-year stint as the head coach at East Rowan High School.

At East Rowan, McKenzie led the Mustangs to an 88-25 record and a spot in the 2005 Western North Carolina finals.  He also coached in the 2009 East/West All-Star Game.  Prior to turning around the East Rowan program, McKenzie led teams at Northwest Cabarrus and Southeast Guilford to state playoff appearances.

McKenzie is a 1986 graduate of East Carolina, earning a bachelor of science degree in physical education.  He resides in Concord with his wife, Laurie.  They have three sons, Kenan (19), Chris (16) and Jordan (12).