Karen Baird - Softball Coach - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Karen Baird

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
emu_softball@emich.edu
Phone:
734.487.1031

In six years at the helm of Eastern Michigan University softball, head coach Karen Baird has transformed a program that won only six games in her first season to capturing a Mid-American Conference West Division and Tournament title in 2007. Under Baird, the Eagles have continually improved, becoming a mainstay atop the MAC.

Baird, the 2007 MAC Coach of the Year, hit the 100-win plateau as the Eagle head coach during the 2008 season. With a 1-0 win against Bucknell (2-16-08), Baird won her 100th game as the Eastern Michigan head coach. Baird also won the 200th game of her 11-year coaching career during 2008, defeating San Diego (2-29-08), 1-0.

Baird’s teams have also performed consistently in the classroom, finishing in the top 10 nationally in team GPA the past four seasons.

In 2008, Baird coached two players who garnered All-MAC honors, including Ashley Strauss, who led the MAC in conference batting average at .512.

The 2007 season was a banner year for Baird and the Eagles, as they won the first championship in program history and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. EMU racked up the postseason awards as shortstop Lauren Clark repeated as MAC Player of the Year, four Eagles were selected to All-MAC teams and Baird was selected the MAC Coach of the Year. The 2007 squad also boasted the third-highest GPA in Division I with a 3.52.

After struggling during the non-conference portion of the season, the Green and White regrouped to open conference play. EMU won 11 of its first 13 conference games, en route to capturing the West title and earning a No.2 seed for the MAC Tournament.

The Eagles rattled off four straight victories over Bowling Green, Ohio twice and Central Michigan to win the tournament and the conference’s automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament. Playing in the NCAA Regional at the University of Michigan, the Eagles fell to the Wolverines, 3-0, and then bowed out of the tournament with a loss to Oregon State.

In 2006, the Eagles made their sixth tournament appearance, earning a No. 5 seed and beating Central Michigan in the tournament, the first victory in the postseason since 1999. EMU also defeated No. 21 Louisville, 2-1, and limited No. 12 Michigan to zero hits in a 1-0 loss. The Eagles also placed four players on All-MAC squads, including Clark as the Player of the Year.

2005 marked the Eagles first tournament appearance since 1999. Baird led the team to an 11-12 record in MAC play, good for the No. 7 seed. The team was honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for garnering the sixth-highest grade point average in the nation with a 3.45 GPA.

In 2004, Baird led the team to 19 wins, a 13-game improvement from 2003. It was the third-best turnaround in team history. Highlighting the season was an upset over No. 2 ranked Florida State. The Eagles placed two on All-MAC squads, the first time since 1999 that two players were honored. EMU was honored again by the NFCA for having the highest GPA in the nation, with a 3.552.

Baird was named the sixth head coach in softball history, September 3, 2002. She came to EMU from Albion College (1998-2002), where she led the program to conference and national honors. During the 2000 campaign, Albion’s squad posted a Division III-best 3.53 GPA. In 2001, the program won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament championship, marking the first title in school history.

Baird has a career record of 210-264, with a mark of 112-172 at EMU. In MAC play, the seventh-year head coach carries a 56-70 mark, improving each year at the helm after consistently playing tough non-conference competition.