Former University of Kentucky soccer player Lee Baker has taken the next step in his journey to become a head soccer coach by joining the professional training staff of the Houston Texans Soccer Club. Baker will join the club team, one of the premiere youth clubs in the country, this summer after receiving his UK degree in secondary education/social studies.
Baker, who spent the 2000 season as an undergraduate assistant for the UK men’s soccer team, returns to Texas where he was a star for Klein High School in Spring, as well as the Texans. It was his years with the club team that helped him improve his skills and desire for playing soccer.
As a student assistant in 2000, Baker assisted in preparing the Wildcats for a journey that took them to their second consecutive MAC Tournament Championship, their first MAC regular season title and their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA first round, UK defeated No. 9 Saint Louis with a 4-2 shootout victory after 150 scoreless minutes to advance to the second round for the first time in school history.
Baker ended his collegiate playing career in 1999 by helping lead UK to heights it had never reached before: the NCAA tournament. Though the Wildcats did not win a championship, Baker’s play helped put UK in position to contend for one in the not-too-distant future with the program’s new-found success.
Baker found his way back to the Bluegrass from Spring, Texas. Born in Louisville, Ky., he picked up just about every type of award a high school soccer player could garner: 1996 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, 1996 Regional Gatorade Player of the Year (one of only five nationally), 1996 Parade All-American, captain of the 1994 Under-16 national champions, and so on.
Once at Kentucky, he continued to shine. He earned his first All-Mid-American Conference selection as a sophomore, netting game-winners against Cleveland State and Marshall that season. In 1998, he followed up by being named first-team All-MAC and second-team All-Mideast Region. He led the team with eight goals and four assists and was named MAC Player of the Week once. Most importantly, he was named to the MAC and Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Rolls.
In 1999, however, Baker blossomed. He led the team in points (22) and assists (8) and was second in goals with seven. One of his better games came against UNC Asheville when he contributed assists on three goals, tying a UK single-game record. He finished his UK playing career second in assists (16), fourth in goals (19) and points (54), and fifth in shots (102).
Baker came to UK in his brother Danny’s footsteps. But it was not just that Danny played for the Cats that sent Baker here, nor the fact that he still has family in the Bluegrass area. It was Baker’s desire to be a part of what he saw as something special.
“It was just the opportunity to take this program to a new level,” Baker said. “I was excited about coming in here and putting Kentucky soccer on the map.”
And that is exactly what he did. His performances in ’99 helped lead the Cats to their first MAC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth. They rode that success into the first round of NCAA play against defending-champion Indiana.
The Cats held No. 2 IU scoreless through regulation and one overtime. UK’s attack was weakened with just under six minutes left in regulation when Jason Bell left the game with his second yellow card. The Wildcat defense then suffered a similar loss when back Rob Frey exited the match with a leg injury. Then, in the 113th minute, IU All-American Aleksey Korol slipped a 2-yard shot into the goal for the 1-0 win.
The season ended for UK, but the progress did not. The Cats’ play during the season, and their valiant effort versus the powerful Hoosiers proved that UK was no slouch. Though disappointing, Baker said that those matches were encouraging because they showed that UK could play with the top teams in the country.
However, Baker will not take credit for the success. He credits his coaches for moving him from defender to striker midway through the 1998 season. He credits his teammates for making him better. And he credits his hard work for putting him in a position to succeed. It is with his modesty, his appreciation for his team and his strong work ethic that he has risen to the top, taking UK with him.
Now, those attributes that have driven him as a player will drive him as a trainer to prepare many young players to be great players.
“Lee has a heart for the game,” UK freshman and Houston Texan team member Logan LeCompte said. “He contributes so much to players because he can still relate to the players. He’s a positive influence. He can see the game better than others.”
“The thing I like most is being able to see the mistakes I made and trying to teach the younger players what they need to do,” Baker said. “I love soccer. I just want to continue to be involved.”
