Vikings coach leaving for Baker University men’s program

It’s all about timing. Carl Albert State College coach Jake Lords believed the time was right to seek a new venture.

Lords has accepted the job of the men’s wrestling coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., located not far from Kansas City or Lawrence in northeast Kansas.

“They actually reached out to me,” Lords said. “I was at the NAIA National Tournament watching former (CASC Lady Viking) athlete Lexi Miller, who was the national runner-up there. They have a coach who helps both the (Baker University) men and the women, his name is Jimmy May. He started the men’s program there in 2008. He reached out to me and asked if (the job) was something I might be interested in. I told him, ‘Maybe. Can you give me some more information?’ So, we started talking. I have a pretty good relationship with the (Baker University) women’s coach Kit Harris. They brought me on the campus, and I went through the interview process. Everybody who I met was either a graduate of Baker or their first job was at Baker or they left and came back. It reminded me a lot of Carl Albert in that regard. People stick around here (at CASC), work here and want to come back here. (Baker University) had that home feeling. It is an opportunity for myself personally and professionally to grow and challenge myself. There’s a little bit more opportunities for my family.” Lords said if this was 365 days ago, he likely would not have accepted any offers. “It was a very difficult decision,” he said. “If you would have asked me at this time last year if I would ever leave Carl Albert, I would have told you no — absolutely not. I started both these (CASC) programs from scratch. They’re my babies. It’s bittersweet for sure, but I’m excited for the new challenge. On the other hand, it’s kind of heartbreaking to leave something I’ve literally poured everything into. For the last four years, I’ve kind of made this (CASC wrestling) a part of my life. Carl Albert will always hold a special place in my heart for sure.”

The first items on the agenda are to get more wrestlers for the men’s program and change the culture to that of the success Lords has had at CASC.

“I will need to recruit and get more guys on the roster,” Lords said. “We’ve got to kind of change the culture. They need some stability that they’ve wanted. It’s kind of been a revolving door, so to speak. They want somebody they can trust to bring some stability. I think we just need to do (at Baker University) what we’ve done here (at CASC) and help them be successful. It will be nice to focus on just one program and really build it. There will be the challenge of being at a four-year university and seeing how well I can build and compete at a four-year program.”

Lords said the Baker men’s wrestling team is pretty happy he will be its new coach.

“They were pretty eager,” he said. “Seven of them were involved in the interview process. They asked me a bunch of different questions about my philosophies and practices. They’re really eager to get somebody in the door to help them.”

Lords said he is involved in a small way in finding his successor.

“’I’m helping a little bit,” Lords said. “I obviously have a vested interest in this place (CASC) to be successful. I’ll help (CASC) President (Jay) Falkner. I’m not certain who else is on the search committee. I told President Falkner to feel free to holler at me if he has questions on coaches. (CASC assistant) coach (Nathan) Marek is really interested, and I think he would do a great job.”

Lords said that whoever is his successor will not find the CASC cupboards bare with either program.

“They’re set up for success, especially on the men’s side,” he said. “There’s two returning All-Americans. Coach Marek has done an excellent job recruiting good people and hard workers. (The Vikings) are going to be successful. We have some returners on the women’s side, and we have some pretty solid recruits lined up. Hopefully, it will be a well-oiled machine for whoever will be in charge.”

Lords said CASC always will hold a special place in his heart.

“First and foremost are the relationships that I’ve built with the student-athletes,” Lords said. “That’s why I got into this business is to build relationships. It’s pretty fun to see the legacy. They’re all starting to be out in the world or still competing at the fouryear level. That’s something I’m really proud of. We’ve had 26 All-Americans, seven national finalists and four national champs. I think we’ll have somewhere close to 40 Scholar All-Americans as they’ve been getting it done on the academic side as well. This year, the women were the Scholar All-American Team runner-up in the country. We’ve really helped grow wrestling in this area. It has a trickle-down effect. The Viking Wrestling Club (youth league) practices here, and it’s growing. (Poteau High School) coach (Matt) Kennedy is doing an incredible job. Success begets success. The rising tide lifts all ships — that’s a Viking phrase. I’m really proud of everything we’ve been able to accomplish.”