Woodburn High School Boy’s Soccer Coach Stan Baker
Stan Baker contacted SoccerToday to raise awareness of the Woodburn High School Soccer Program. Although the school is underfunded, the boys have made the best of what they have, ignored their financial disadvantage and achieved greatness.
Comcast SportsNet’s inaugural All-Star Coach Program is aimed at recognizing the region’s top K-12 public school coaches, and the finalists are in. From numerous nominations, finalists were selected by a panel of community leaders based on exemplary commitment to the school, student-athletes, parents, and the community; excellence in coaching style and interaction with student-athletes; distinction from other coaches; and, quality of coaching, including respect and inspiration.
One of the country’s leading youth soccer coaches Baker, Head Boys Soccer Coach at Woodburn High School is one of five finalists. Baker is author of the well known soccer book Our Competition is the World. There are very few coaches nominated and this award covers all sports.
Comcast SportsNet will award the 2015 All-Star Coach winner with $5,000 for the school where he or she coaches on Saturday, April 4 on the court at half-time of the Trail Blazers vs. Pelicans game, and the four outstanding runners-up will be acknowledged with awards of $500 for the schools where they coach.
Baker has spent 18 years as a K-12 teacher in both elementary and high school classrooms. He has coached youth soccer for more than twenty years and has lived abroad in Spain as well as in South America. He holds the A and Y coaching licenses from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as well as FIFA recognized licenses from Argentina (ATFA – Pro and Youth), Brazil (CBF – Escola Brasileira de Futebol – Level 1 Youth), and Peru (FPF) ESEFUL.He is presently the Director of Player Development and Coaching Education at Hillsboro Soccer Club and the resident small group trainer at Hillsboro Futsal. He has coached previously at Westside Timbers Alliance (Formerly Westside Metros) as well as with the Portland Timbers Pre-Academy/ODP Program.
Baker is bilingual Spanish/English and in his spare time has translated books into both Spanish and English for the internationally renowned coaching mentor Horst Wein. He is known for his commitment to long-term development and the pursuit of the beautiful game.
He has been married eighteen years to his wife Rocío; they have a seven year old son Santi and a two year old daughter Sofia.
Bakers’ biggest source of pride is in seeing players move up to a new level whether that is at the state level ODP, regional ODP, an id2 National Camp, the U17 United States Soccer Youth Residency in Bradenton, Florida or college and professional soccer.
Woodburn High School
Published in 2010, Woodburn High School’s all Hispanic boys’ soccer team inspired the book The Boys of Little Mexico by Steve Wilson. The Boys from Little Mexico tells the story about the fight for the future of the next generation and a hard, true look at boys dismissed as gangbangers and told to “go home” by sideline crowds.
• 75% of all Woodburn School District students are Hispanic (20% statewide)
• 40.9% of all students are currently classified as English Language Learners (down from more than 60% three years ago).
• More than 80% are Spanish-speakers
• Poverty rate of students ranges from 78-90% with 100% of all students receiving free breakfast and lunch
• Accomplished the state’s best on-time graduation rate for Latino students, 88%, and the second-highest for students who learned English as a second language, 87%.
“The Woodburn Program is very underfunded. We were lucky enough to get uniforms donated by the Portland Timbers, which is something most High Schools never have to worry about. The $5,000 would mean so much to Woodburn.” said Baker, who never seeks the lime light for his accomplishments. He is seeking votes for the school, because he knows the amazing impact the prize money would make for Woodburn. Just like the popular new film, McFarland, these kids do not have the opportunity to take basic items for granted.
Coaching Experience:
- Director of Player Development/Coaching Education at Hillsboro Soccer Club Hillsboro, Oregon (May 2013 – Present)
- Head Boys Soccer Coach – Woodburn High School Woodburn, Oregon (June 2013 – Present)
- State Finalist – 2014 State Semifinalist – 2013
- Resident Trainer – Hillsboro Futsal Hillsboro, Oregon (2013-present)
- State Staff Coach at Oregon Youth Soccer Association (January 2006 – Present)
- Volunteer Soccer Coach/Advisor – Adelante Chicas Soccer Program Hillsboro, Oregon (2014)
- Youth Soccer Coach at Westside Timbers Alliance (August 2004 – March 2013)
- State Semifinalist 2012, 2013
- Head Coach at Portland Timbers/ODP (January 2005 – December 2012)
- ODP/Portland Timbers Pre-Academy Western Regional Semifinalist 2012
- Nike Friendship Cup Winner 2012
- Staff Coach at F.C. Barcelona Camps (July 2012)
- Staff Coach at Portland Timbers Camps Portland, Oregon (May 2011 – July 2012)
- Director of Coaching at Newberg Soccer Club Newberg, Oregon (Oct 2009 – June 2011)
- Women’s Assistant Coach Western – Western Oregon University NCAA Division 2 (2007-2009) Women’s Assistant Coach – Lewis and Clark College NCAA Division 3 (2004-2007)
- Head Boys Soccer Coach – Forest Grove High School Forest Grove, Oregon (August 2001 – 2004)
- State Playoffs – 2004
Coaching Honors and Awards:
- United States Youth Soccer Association: National Coach of the Year – 2011 Boys Competitive
- United States Youth Soccer Association (Region 4) – Region IV Coach of the Year 2011 Boys Competitive Oregon Youth Soccer Association – State Coach of the Year – 2010 Boys Competitive
- Mid-Willamette Conference – Oregon High School Soccer 2014 Boys Coach of the Year
Coaching Licensure and Education:
- *Highest level national coaching licenses held for the USA, Argentina, Brazil and Peru:
- USSF – United States Soccer Federation A and Y Coaching Licenses, Soccer Coaching, (2001 – 2010)
- CBF – Escola Brasileira de Futebol/Brasilian Soccer Coaching License – Level 1, Soccer Coaching, (2009) ATFA – Asociación de Técnicos de Fútbol Argentino/Argentine Pro and Youth Coaching Licenses, Soccer Coaching, (2007 – 2009)
- NSCAA – National Soccer Coaches Association of America Director of Coaching – Diploma, (2008) FPF/ESEFUL – Federación Peruana de Fútbol/National Peruvian Coaching License, Soccer Coaching, (2000 – 2001)
Cast your vote: http://www.csnnw.com/page/all-star-coach
