The College of Idaho Men's Soccer

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Baker began his tenure as head coach of the C of I men's soccer program in 2013 and has a career record of 81-83-10. HONORS: Under Baker, 36 Coyote players have earned All-Cascade Conference honors; 32 players have earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors; and 101 players have been named to the CCC All-Academic team. POSTSEASON: Baker has led the Yotes to 7 playoff appearances in his time at the realm. In 2013, he led the team to the CCC Championships, advancing to the semifinals, before a tough 1-0 double-overtime loss to eventual champion, Corban. In 2015, his squad lost in the CCC quarterfinals, 3-1, to eventual champion, Rocky Mountain; while in 2017, the Yotes dropped an overtime 1-0 decision to regular-season champion, Southern Oregon, in the CCC quarterfinals. In 2023, he led the Yotes to win the CCC Championship Tournament  for the first time in over 20 years that earned his squad a trip an automatic bid to the NAIA Championships, ending an over 20 year drought from the national tournament, and a trip to Florida to face Menlo College which the Yotes suffered a 2-1 defeat. HIGHLIGHTS: His Yotes have defeated one Top-25 team - a 2-1 victory over No. 23 ranked Rocky Mountain in 2014, along with a 1-0 victory over NCAA Division II Dominican University.  His 2014 team became the first C of I squad to score at least five goals in a match on three separate occasions, including seven goals in wins over Oregon Tech and Corban. BEFORE C OF I: Baker returned to the College after 12 seasons as a local high school coach at both Vallivue and Bishop Kelly High Schools. At Vallivue High, his squads posted a 96-48-12 overall record and five trips to the state tournament, including second-place finishes in both 2001 and 2002. From 2010-12, his BKHS teams posted a 35-21-7 record, including a second-place finish in the 2010 4A state tournament. PERSONAL: A 1995 graduate of the College, Baker played from 1990-93 under longtime head coach John Calpin, and played alongside current C of I Director of Soccer, Brian Smith. Baker was a highly respected soccer referee in the western region. He officiated professional soccer as well as NCAA D1/D2 and NAIA soccer before setting aside the whistle to lead the Yotes. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two children - Cole and Taylor, and reside in Boise.

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Coach Thorne started in 2018 as an assistant coach of the C of I men's soccer program while also coaching the school's reserve team. BEFORE C OF I: Thorne joined the College of Idaho soccer program while also coaching for the Boise Timbers Thorns Soccer Club. Thorne has coached soccer in the Treasure Valley for the past 22 years, with 16 years of that spent with the Boise Nationals Soccer Club. Coach Thorne started his coaching journey as a volunteer coach in the Kuna youth soccer association. He later became the Director of Coaching and Director of Coach Education for KYSA which grew to one of the largest rec programs in Idaho during that time. WITH BOISE NATIONALS: Thorne held numerous positions with BNSC, including: Technical Director, Technical Staff, Director of Coaching, Associate Director of Coaching, Portland Timbers Liason, and Age Group Pool Coach, along with multiple other roles. BNSC would later become Boise Timbers, the first Idaho affiliate of the Portland Timbers Academy. EDUCATION: Boise State University Associate in Criminal Justice Studies, Bachelor of Arts in MDS, Certificate of Applied Leadership. United State Soccer Federation National Youth License and C License. Currently a Digital Creator for internet safety and cyber investigation for the City of Boise.  PERSONAL: Thorne has had a connection with Yotes soccer since he was a teenager, playing for longtime Yotes coach John Calpin. Between friends and family who are C of I alumni and players he coached who became Yotes, that connection has only grown throughout the years. Coach Thorne said when Coach Baker asked him to join the Yotes soccer program, he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Yotes family. Thorne said "He knows what a special community C of I has, which is much bigger than just soccer. It felt like a perfect fit and time in my coaching journey." Thorne lives in the Boise area with his wife of 28 years and two adult sons. The youngest played for Coach Baker, and is a C of I graduate.