White Named Head Softball Coach at Baker University

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After a thorough national search, Baker University Athletic Director Susan Decker announced that Sam White has been named the next head softball coach for the Wildcats.

"I'm thrilled to have Coach White joining us here at Baker to lead our softball program," said Decker. "With the Worlds Series appearance this past spring, Baker softball is in a terrific position to compete for a national championship and with his record of success in the NAIA, Coach White is someone who can get us to that next level. His positive energy and passion for the game will be a fantastic presence for the team and will allow our student-athletes to succeed both on and off the field."

With 20 years of softball coaching experience, White comes to Baker after spending the past two seasons at Shawnee State where he led the Bears to 27 wins in his first year at the helm. This past season, he led them to a 19-25 record and added seven wins against Mid-South Conference opponents.

Prior to his head coaching stints at Shawnee State (2022-2023) and Bluefield College (2021), White was an assistant coach at Lindsey Wilson and helped develop the Blue Raiders softball program into a national powerhouse. Over the five seasons he was there, the Blue Raiders went 229-64, including back-to-back 50-win seasons in his first two years in Columbia, Ky. In 2015, LWC went 53-8 and finished as NAIA National Runner-Ups.

"I'd like to thank Coach Decker and Dr. Murray for this opportunity," said White. "Baker is a place that catches your eye with all of their competitive athletic programs and I look forward to continuing that aspect with the softball program. The feeling you get from campus and the surrounding community is what makes this place unique. I'm excited to be a part of the Baker family!"

A native of Headland, Ala., White's first head coaching stop came at Faulkner State Community College where he led the program to two conference championships, including a perfect 18-0 conference record in 2013. He was also a part of the coaching staff at Darton College that won three conference championships and made two appearances in the NJCAA World Series.

White takes over a Wildcats softball program that is coming off their first-ever appearance at the NAIA World Series this past season. The 2023 squad tied the program record for wins after going 47-12 and clinched a share of the Heart of America Conference Regular Season Championship. BU reached as high as No. 4 in the NAIA Top-25 Poll and knocked off No. 6 College of Idaho in the NAIA Opening Round to punch their ticket to Columbus, Ga.

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