Penn State Harrisburg Athletics Hall of Fame
Jim Baker '76 - Men's Basketball
A pioneer during the first decade of Penn State Harrisburg athletics, Jim Baker was the catalyst for the earliest period of success for the men's basketball program. Back when the college was a two-year institution, the Harrisburg, Pa. native led the Lions to a then program-record 15 victories—the first double-digit-win season in program history—in 1975-76. He was named the team's MVP after tallying 644 points and 195 rebounds during the 1974-75 campaign and he followed it up by averaging 26.5 points per game the following year. As a senior, he poured in 41 points against Spring Garden in his final collegiate contest and added six 30-point games that season. After completing his playing career as the program's all-time leading scorer (1,260 points), Baker manned the sideline as an assistant under former head coach Fred Baker in 1976-77 before being elevated to head coach for two seasons from 1977-79.
