Eastern Florida State College names MJ Baker women's basketball coach

Eastern Florida State College announced MJ Baker as the new women's basketball head coach on Tuesday morning.

Baker comes to Eastern Florida State College after three successful seasons at Broward College, winning 48 games and was named the Region VIII Coach of the Year this past season after leading the Seahawks to a 21-6 record and made the Region VIII Tournament for the second straight season.

"We are thrilled to have MJ as our new women's basketball coach! We had over 175 applicants and MJ rose to the top for our committee," Eastern Florida State College Associate Vice President of Sports Jeff Carr said. "Her knowledge of the game, her passion and she is a tremendous role model for our student athletes and is tough but fair. She has excelled at every level she has coached on and has played at the highest level. We are thrilled to welcome her and her family to the Titan family."

Baker wasted no time getting right to work, leading the team's workout Tuesday afternoon.

"I am excited to connect with the team, we are returning a lot of great freshmen who will be sophomores and I am excited to see where they are and evaluate where we are as a program," Baker said before the workout.

Baker takes over for Jim Grimes who passed away Jan. 30 and he is one of the reasons that Baker applied for the position.

"Coach Grimes and his family have always been awesome to me, coach Grimes has always been first class with me and everything he did at Eastern Florida and when the tragedy happened, I just really felt connected to the program. Once I met coach Carr and saw everything he has done here and what kind of person he is and what he stands for, it was a no-brainer," Baker said. "My husband and I thought it was a calling for us and an opportunity we could not pass up."

Before Broward College, Baker led Bluefield College to a record 22 wins and a first-ever top-25 ranking in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll. The team went 13-5 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play and advanced to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament.

And she believes you can be successful anywhere with a couple of key ingredients.

"It starts with people and that is one of the reasons I took the job, from (College President) Dr. Richey to coach Carr and the entire community here in Melbourne, what they stand for is important to me. Passion is big for me, love is also big. Those are the big things for me, if you don't have passion and a love for the game and each other, it is really hard to be successful."