Amite native Antonio Baker returned to Tangipahoa Parish in early 2020 to join the Southeastern Louisiana Football coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Baker worked with the Southeastern safeties in the 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021. The 2010 Louisiana Tech graduate was a four-year letter winner at safety for the Bulldogs.
In his first season with the Lions, Baker coached a pair of All-Southland Conference performers in Donniel Ward-Magee and Jack Henderson.
In 2021, he worked with the team’s nickelbacks and helped Henderson repeat as an All-Southland Conference selection.
Henderson was a first team All-Southland Conference pick under Baker’s tutelage in 2022 and was a key contributor to the 2022 Southland Conference championship run for SLU. In 2024, Khamron Ford earned All-SLC honors, finishing with 72 tackles.
Prior to coming to Hammond, Baker’s most recent stop was Kilgore College, where he spent the 2019 season, coaching linebackers. Prior to that, he coached safeties for two seasons at East Central Community College in Mississippi. During his time at ECCC, he also served as the program’s head strength and condition coach.
He opened his coaching career at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, where he coached defensive backs and special teams. JHHS made two straight trips to the Class 2A playoffs during Baker’s tenure.
As a player, Baker recorded 352 tackles and 10 interceptions during his collegiate career. A two-time first team All-WAC selection, he was selected the 2008 Louisiana Defensive Player of the Year.
Baker prepped at Amite High School, helping the Warriors to the 2004 Class 3A state championship. As a senior, he earned district defensive MVP honors and also was named Defensive MVP at the LHSAA All-Star game.
Baker received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana Tech.
