A young Art Baker ’53 during his time as the offensive backfield coach for the Blue Hose.

Presbyterian College lost one of the most prominent members of its football fraternity this week following the death of alumnus Art Baker ’53.

Baker played football for legendary coach Lonnie McMillian and was the Blue Hose’ starting halfback his final two years. At PC, he was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha’s Mu chapter and a recipient of the Bob Waters Award.

The Sumter native began his coaching career as an assistant at PC before joining legendary coach Frank Howard’s staff at Clemson University in 1965. Baker served as an assistant at Texas Tech from 1970-72 before becoming the head coach at nearby Furman University in 1973.

As head coach for the Paladins, Baker hired assistants Dick Sheridan, Jimmy Satterfield, and Bobby Johnson – all of whom later became head coaches at Furman. In 1978, Baker took over as head coach at The Citadel before closing out his head coaching career at East Carolina from 1985-88.

Later, he served as associate athletics director for development and director of the Gamecock Club at the University of South Carolina before retiring in 1995. He was inducted into the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.

Though he never played for Baker at PC, Blue Hose football alumnus Alan Smith ‘77 nevertheless knew the coach well during his role as the former director of the Scotsman Club.

“Coach Baker became the coach at Furman my freshman year at PC,” Smith said. “So, I didn’t play for him but I got to know him pretty well when I was working there.”

Like most retired football coaches, Baker had stories. Lots of them. Smith said Baker once told him about how he and three of his high school teammates from Sumter were being recruited by McMillian and how Baker received a minimal scholarship offer because he was friends with the other, more prized, recruits.

Smith said Baker also shared numerous – very colorful – stories of his time as an assistant for the equally colorful Howard. Smith also noted Baker’s longtime friendship with legendary Blue Hose coach Cally Gault and his unceasing support of his alma mater.

“Coach Baker was a great coach and a great man and he always loved being a part of PC football,” Smith said.