EAST STROUDSBURG – Henry Baker, formerly the defensive graduate assistant at the University of Maryland, has been named the defensive backs coach at East Stroudsburg University, head coach Denny Douds has announced.

Baker arrives at ESU after spending two seasons under head coach Ralph Friedgen at Maryland, which included the 2009 Rowdy Humanitarian Bowl championship team which finished with an 8-5 record. He was the interim inside linebackers coach for the Terrapins' bowl game and worked with the secondary, linebackers and special teams during his time in College Park.

“We're excited to have Henry join the Warriors football coaching staff,” said Douds, who is entering his 37th year as head coach with a PSAC record 226 wins. “His talents and ability will add to the football program and greatly benefit the student-athletes that he will be recruiting and coaching.”

A four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at defensive back at Maryland from 1994-97, Baker is a candidate for his Master's degree in Education-Minority and Urban Education in May 2010 and earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2003.

Baker previously served as Maryland's recruiting intern in 2001 and has high school coaching experience at Eastside High School in Paterson, N.J. (2003, 2005-06) and South Miami (Fla.) High School in 2007 before returning to his alma mater. His time at Eastside included an appearance in the New Jersey Group IV Section 1 state championship game.

He also spent extensive time in professional football, landing in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, and competed in the Arena Football League with the New Jersey Red Dogs and Carolina Cobras and AFL2 with the Norfolk Nighthawks and Albany Firebirds.

Baker worked with James Franklin (ESU '95), the Terrapins' offensive coordinator, during both of his stints at Maryland. Franklin was the Warriors' starting quarterback in 1993 and 1994, a candidate for the Harlon Hill Award as the outstanding player in Division II as a senior and was named the eventual successor to Friedgen as Maryland's head coach in February of this year.