Football: Baer comes from Japan to Notre Dame
By JOE HETTLER
Assistant Sports Editor
Defensive coordinator Kent Baer did not begin his collegiate football coaching career in the United States, but overseas in Japan as the head coach of the Yokosuka Seahawks (United States Navy) team for four years. Once he got back on to American soil, Baer coached linebackers at Utah State for 5 years, before being their defensive coordinator for three more years.
After eight more years at defensive coordinator for the University of California and Arizona State, Tyrone Willingham hired Baer as the defensive coordinator of Stanford in 1995. Last year at Stanford, Baer's defense gave up only 109.6 yards on the ground, which was good enough to lead the PAC-10 conference for only the second time in school history. Surprisingly, from the staff Willingham assembled in 1995, only Baer remains with the coach at Notre Dame.
"I've been with [Willingham] longer than anybody now," Baer said. "I'm the only coach left on the staff when we came in, when we first went to Stanford, so we've been through a lot together. He's such a tremendous person, first of all. Not only is he a good person, a great family man, but he's a tremendous football coach."
Throughout his years of coaching, Baer has made some lasting memories, but one particular memory sticks out in his mind most vividly.
"The [1999] Rose Bowl comes to mind right now," Baer said. "What a tremendous opportunity. I think that's number one, playing in the Rose Bowl, having the kind of year we had, representing the PAC-10 and being the PAC-10 champion was just a special time in my life and coaching career."
On the field, Baer wants his teams to be aggressive and shut down the opponents running game. However, Baer also pushes his players to become better people off the field as well.
"Hopefully [his players] walk away saying `I learned something not only about football, but how to handle situations and about life,'" Baer said.
All Sports Stories for Friday, April 26, 2002
