Fortenberry Named Baker Head Track and Field Coach

BALDWIN CITY – After a thorough national search, Baker University Director of Athletics Susan Decker announced on Tuesday the hiring of Christina Fortenberry as the next head men's and women's track and field coach for the Wildcats.

"We are very excited to have Christina joining our staff here at Baker," said Decker. "During the interview process, it was clear she shares the same vision and values for the track and field program, both academically and athletically, as we do as a university. Along with her coaching background at the NCAA level, I believe her leadership skills and coaching philosophy will set our student-athletes up for success and provide them with a rewarding experience."

Fortenberry comes to Baker after spending the past seven seasons at Christian Brothers University, an NCAA Division II school located in Memphis, Tenn., where she served as the Bucs' head track and field coach for the past three seasons. During her time at CBU, she coached conference champions in the 400-meter hurdles, 4x400m relay, long jump and high jump as well as a three-time NCAA All-American long jumper. Additionally, she had multiple athletes named to the Gulf South Conference All-Academic Team.

Prior to CBU, Fortenberry was the head track and field and cross country coach at Memphis Central High School, spending three seasons there as both a teacher and coach.

After competing collegiately for Marquette University, Fortenberry first moved to Memphis in the fall of 2009 when she signed on as an assistant coach for the track team at the University of Memphis. She spent four years with the Tigers, coaching primarily the horizontal and vertical jumpers and had three national qualifiers during her time there.

"I'm very excited to be a part of Baker University Athletics," expressed Fortenberry. "I am grateful to Susan Decker and the search committee for this opportunity, and I can't wait to start coaching the student-athletes."

Fortenberry takes over for former Wildcats coach Ryan Pitts, who stepped down from the program in June after 10 seasons on the coaching staff. This past season, the Wildcats took sixth in both the men's and women's competition at the 2024 Heart Outdoor Conference Championships and featured their second NAIA All-American in the past three seasons with Gage Hiebert earning the honor in men's javelin.

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