Baker entered his second year with the Rams as defensive line coach. In 2006, Baker helped DE Leonard Little lead the team and tie for fifth in the NFL with 13.0 sacks. Pro Bowler DT La’Roi Glover also had a solid year under Baker, finishing with 5.5 sacks, sixth most by a defensive tackle in the NFC (ninth in the NFL).

Prior to coming to the Rams, Baker spent five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as their defensive line coach in 2001 and 2004-05, and Minnesota’s linebackers coach from 2002-03.

While with the Vikings, Baker helped develop DT Kevin Williams from a first-round draft pick to a first-team all-Pro and Pro Bowl starter in 2004. That season, Williams led all NFL defensive tackles with 11.5 sacks and joined DE Lance Johnstone, who had 11.0 sacks, to give the Vikings the third-most prolific sack tandem in the NFL in 2004.

Baker came to the Vikings after coaching the defensive line for the Detroit Lions from 1997-2000. Under Baker, Lions’ defensive linemen Luther Elliss and Robert Porcher earned Pro Bowl berths. In 1999, Porcher notched a career-high 15.0 sacks, the highest total in Lions’ history since 1982 when the sack became an official NFL statistic. Baker also coached current ram DE James Hall in his rookie year in Detroit.

Baker tutored defensive linemen for the San Diego Chargers in 1996 in his NFL coaching debut. From 1987-95 Baker coached outside linebackers at Georgia Tech, adding the title of defensive coordinator in 1995. Tech was 10-0-1 and the nation’s only undefeated team in 1990 , earning a National Championship. Baker began his coaching career at Maryland, his alma mater. In 1984-85 he was outside linebackers coach, then coached one season at Army, serving as fullbacks coach in 1986.

Baker played outside linebacker at Maryland from 1981-83, helping the Terrapins go undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1983, and earning his marketing degree from Maryland in 1985.

Baker, a Baltimore native, played running back, outside linebacker, and ran track for the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute High Engineers. He is married to Nevada with three daughters – Nicole, Jade, and Jasmine – and they live in St. Charles, Mo. Nevada earned all-America honors in track and field at Virginia.