Rowan University Men's Soccer

Baker is in his third season as head men's soccer coach at Rowan University. Baker is just the third head coach in the history of the sport at the University. He was an assistant coach for the Profs from 2012-13. Last season, Rowan had a 16-6 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) last season. The Profs earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championhip Tournament, their first appearance since 2003. Rowan had six players named to the All-Conference team, including NJAC Rookie of the Year and National Soccer Coaches Association of America South Atlantic All-Region second team selection Will Sjaastad. In 2014, Rowan was 10-9 overall and 4-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Three players received All-Conference honorable mention. Baker is the director of club development for Futbol Club Copa Academy.  He holds this position for the club's North and South Jersey locations. In addition, Baker is the owner and director of Soccer Wise, a soccer training company that works with several clubs and high schools throughout the northeast region. Baker previously served as the director of training for the Team Boca Soccer Club from 2003-12.  Baker was the associate head coach/director of training for the clubs professional team, the Boca Blast, in 2012. While with the club, he led several teams. Bakers teams were state finalists three times, including winning the state championship in 2010. He was the director of athletics, director of the boys and girls soccer academy and head of the health and physical education department at Boca Prep International School from 2011-12.  Prior, Baker was the director of athletics and head boys and girls soccer coach at Pope John Paul II High School from 2008-11.  He was selected the 2010 Palm Beach County Coach of the Year by the Palm Beach Post. From 2006-08, Baker taught health and physical education at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  During that time, he was the assistant athletic director and head girls soccer coach.  In 2007, Baker was named the Broward County Coach of the Year by the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.  He guided the girls soccer team to the 2007 6A State Championship and 2007 and 2008 District Championships. Bakers teams were ranked in the top five in the country. In addition, Baker was the head mens and womens soccer coach at Defiance College from 2005-06.  He served as the head womens soccer coach at Flagler College from 2003-04.  During that time, the Saints were ranked in the top 25 and posted the programs best finish in school history.  Baker was also an assistant coach for the mens soccer team. During the 2002-03 school year, Baker was the head mens soccer coach at Brookdale Community College, which finished in the top five in the country.  The Jersey Blues were the conference and regional champions and a national finalist.  Baker was chosen the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Regional and National Coach of the Year.  He was the head girls soccer coach at Jackson Memorial High School from 1998-2002.  Baker spent one season (1997-98) as the head womens soccer coach at New Jersey City University. From 1994-96, he worked as a health and physical education teacher at Sacred Heart High School.  Baker was also the head boys soccer coach.  During the 1993-94 school year, Baker guided the Delsea Regional High School girls junior varsity team to an undefeated season.  He was the assistant varsity coach and helped the team to the 1993 state title.  From 1992-97, Baker worked with the New Jersey Select Club Team and helped lead them to the state semifinals in 1994.  He holds a NSCAA National license and a United States Soccer Federation license. Baker graduated from the University in 1993 with a bachelor of arts in health and physical education.  He later earned a masters degree in education from the University of Phoenix.  While at Rowan, Baker was a four-year starter for the soccer team.  He was a member of the 1990 NCAA Division III Championship team and served as a captain his senior season. Baker earned NJAC All-Conference first team honors in 1990 and was on the second team in 1991. He participated in all 90 games that the team played in his four years and totaled 46 points with 13 goals and 20 assists. The 1990 men's soccer team will be inducted into the University's Athletic Hall of Fame on October 9.  

Connor Hurff has been part of the Rowan University Men's Soccer Program since the 2021 season. In his first year the team went to the NJAC conference finals before losing in penalty kicks and was part of the NCAA tournament advancing to the second round. In 2022 the Rowan University Men's Soccer team captured the NJAC Championship on a stellar run that saw them advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament before falling in penalty kicks. Previously, Hurff was part of Harcum College Men's Soccer during their run at the NJCAA Division 1 Championship where they advanced to the Final 4 before losing to eventual National Champions Salt Lake Community College. He also served as an assistant coach at Rutgers-Camden for four seasons. Hurff also played for two seasons at Rutgers-New Brunswick before transferring to Rutgers-Camden where he was an All-NJAC performer and helped the Scarlet Raptors to the Division III Championship game back in 2013. He also has played professionally with the Philadelphia Fury, trialed with Bethlehem Steel (currently Philadelphia Union 2).