Kennesaw State women's basketball coach
Agnus Berenato announced on May 12, 2016 the addition of
Sherill Baker as an assistant coach.
Baker comes to the Owls after a four-year stint at Auburn University, while Sprouse comes from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). These two join assistant coach Khajida Head, who was introduced last month.
An All-American at the University of Georgia, Baker was an assistant coach at Auburn for two seasons on Terri William-Flournoy's staff after spending the first two years as director of basketball services. At KSU, Baker will be charged with leading the guard workouts and organizing game-day scouting reports, while assisting with team academic and recruiting efforts.
"Sherill is a valued addition to my staff," said Berenato. "Not only does she come with great playing experience, but her recruiting ties in Georgia and the southeast will be invaluable. I am excited to work with Sherill -- a young coach that has incredible energy and motivation, coupled with a high level of collegiate and professional basketball experience. Her enthusiasm is contagious and our student-athletes will relate to Sherill both on and off the court."
For the Tigers, Baker served as the primary position coach for guards and wings, while handling nationwide recruiting, coordinating official and unofficial visits and spearheading the team's social media efforts.
"Coach B is a leader who genuinely cares about developing our student-athletes' character," said Baker. "This is a very special moment for me because every day I get the chance to be able to learn from a great head coach. She is a natural-born winner and I am extremely excited and blessed to be given the opportunity to join her staff and be back in my hometown. The passion that she brings to Kennesaw State speaks volumes and I am thrilled to be a part of such a special program."
Baker spent four seasons in the WNBA after being drafted twelfth overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft. She signed on with the New York Liberty where she played 34 games during the 2006 season and three in 2007, before being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. She also played one season in 2008 with the Indiana Fever and spent time with the Detroit Shock in 2009 before ending her WNBA career.
Her professional playing career also included overseas stops in Israel, Italy, France, Germany and Cyprus during the WNBA off-season where she averaged double figures in scoring each year.
A native of Stone Mountain, Ga., Baker attended Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross and played collegiately at Georgia. Baker earned her degree in speech communication from UGA in 2006. The Gwinnett County native was selected to the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
During her career, the Lady Bulldogs compiled a 93-39 (.705) record and made four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In those four tournament trips, Baker helped Georgia to two Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight appearance.
She started 122 of 131 games and tallied 1,665 career points (12.7 ppg). She holds the single-season and career Georgia records for steals with 149 and 426, respectively. Baker was named All-American, All-SEC First Team and National Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. She was named an SEC Legend at the 2014 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament.
