Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball
Baird, Karen
Karen Baird
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- emu_softball@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.1031
The 2012 season marks the 10th season at the helm of Eastern Michigan University softball for Karen Baird, who 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.
Last season, Baird led the Eagles to the second-best winning percentage in program history. EMU’s 26-18 (.591) record was second only to the 1988 campaign, where the Eagles went 36-21 (.631) under then Head Coach Connie Minor.
Baird coached a program record five All-MAC athletes with Sarah Gerber, Jessica Richards and McKenna Russ taking first team accolades, while Stacie Skodinski and Lauren Wells taking second team honors. Wells was also named to the All-Freshman squad.
Academically, the Green and White put four on the 2011 Academic All-MAC list and 10 athletes on the NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete List, helping record the 10th best grade point average in country amongst Division-I institutions.
In 2010, Baird took a leave of absence to give birth to her first child. During that time, Assistant Coach Eric Oakley served as Interim Head Coach.
The 2009 season was marked by a 7-game improvement over the previous season record, including a no-hitter vs. Albany and a 3-2 win over #17 Louisville in the South Florida Tournament. The 2009 season also saw junior Jennifer Scherer break the EMU Single-Season (14) and career (36) home run records, which bested the previous marks of 13 single-season and 24 career home runs. The 2009 team earned several post-season honors, including second team All-MAC selections, Jennifer Scherer and Stacie Skodinski; All-Freshmen team pick, Kaylee Tolliver; and Academic All-MAC honorees, Scherer and Heather Han.
Baird, the 2007 MAC Coach of the Year, hit the 100-win plateau as the Eagle head coach with a 1-0 win over Bucknell on Feb. 16, 2008. Baird also captured the 200th game of her 11-year coaching career during 2008, defeating San Diego Feb 29, by a score of 1-0.
Baird’s teams have also performed consistently in the classroom, finishing in the top-20 in grade point average over the past six seasons.
In 2008, Baird coached two players who garnered All-MAC honors, including Ashley Strauss, who led the MAC in 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.
EMU won 11 of its first 13 conference games of 2007 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.
In 2005, the Eagles made their first tournament appearance since 1999. Baird led the team to an 11-12 record in MAC play which was 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 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 258-312, with a mark of 160-220 at EMU. In MAC play, the 10-year head coach carries a 76-92 mark.
Last season, Baird led the Eagles to the second-best winning percentage in program history. EMU’s 26-18 (.591) record was second only to the 1988 campaign, where the Eagles went 36-21 (.631) under then Head Coach Connie Minor.
Baird coached a program record five All-MAC athletes with Sarah Gerber, Jessica Richards and McKenna Russ taking first team accolades, while Stacie Skodinski and Lauren Wells taking second team honors. Wells was also named to the All-Freshman squad.
Academically, the Green and White put four on the 2011 Academic All-MAC list and 10 athletes on the NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete List, helping record the 10th best grade point average in country amongst Division-I institutions.
In 2010, Baird took a leave of absence to give birth to her first child. During that time, Assistant Coach Eric Oakley served as Interim Head Coach.
The 2009 season was marked by a 7-game improvement over the previous season record, including a no-hitter vs. Albany and a 3-2 win over #17 Louisville in the South Florida Tournament. The 2009 season also saw junior Jennifer Scherer break the EMU Single-Season (14) and career (36) home run records, which bested the previous marks of 13 single-season and 24 career home runs. The 2009 team earned several post-season honors, including second team All-MAC selections, Jennifer Scherer and Stacie Skodinski; All-Freshmen team pick, Kaylee Tolliver; and Academic All-MAC honorees, Scherer and Heather Han.
Baird, the 2007 MAC Coach of the Year, hit the 100-win plateau as the Eagle head coach with a 1-0 win over Bucknell on Feb. 16, 2008. Baird also captured the 200th game of her 11-year coaching career during 2008, defeating San Diego Feb 29, by a score of 1-0.
Baird’s teams have also performed consistently in the classroom, finishing in the top-20 in grade point average over the past six seasons.
In 2008, Baird coached two players who garnered All-MAC honors, including Ashley Strauss, who led the MAC in 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.
EMU won 11 of its first 13 conference games of 2007 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.
In 2005, the Eagles made their first tournament appearance since 1999. Baird led the team to an 11-12 record in MAC play which was 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 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 258-312, with a mark of 160-220 at EMU. In MAC play, the 10-year head coach carries a 76-92 mark.
Thank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25
