Pitts Steps Down as Baker’s Director of Cross Country/Track & Field

BALDWIN CITY - After spending the last 10 years on the coaching staff, Ryan Pitts has announced he is stepping down as the Director of Cross Country/Track Field for Baker University.

"I had some pretty big shoes to fill when I was named the head track & field coach at Baker," said Pitts. "Then after being promoted to director, I was overwhelmed with the confidence bestowed upon me to run this program. I have learned so much, created great relationships, and have watched former student-athletes move on and become successful in life. In the end, that is all I ever wanted for them. I can honestly say that I have given everything I had to this program. I will truly miss this place and it was truly an absolute privilege to be a part of the athletic staff at Baker University."

Pitts was named the Director of Cross Country/Track Field in 2022 after a seven-year stint as the head track and field coach for the Wildcats. Overall, he has led the program to two conference championships on the men's side, while producing 42 individual conference champions, 25 All-Americans, one National Champion and establishing 27 new school records.

In his first season as head coach in 2015-16, Pitts led the Baker men's program to sweep the conference championships after claiming both the indoor and outdoor titles that year and was named USTFCCCA Men's Outdoor Track and Field South Central Regional Coach of the Year in 2016 as well as earning Heart Coach of the Year honors.

Pitts would go on to boast his first national champion in 2019 with Moses Watson, who won the men's 3,000-meter racewalk at the NAIA Indoor Championships.

"I want to thank Coach Pitts for everything that he has done for this university," said Baker Athletic Director Susan Decker. "Not only has he done a fantastic job leading the track and field program, but he has been an outstanding supporter for Baker University as a whole. He has always been a team player for our department and has made sure that him and his team are supporting the other programs on campus. Coach Pitts truly bleeds orange and I know he will be extremely missed in many different ways."

Before his coaching career, Pitts was a two-sport athlete at Baker playing both track and field and football, earning All-American honors in football as a wide receiver and was a three-time national qualifier in track and field.

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