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Kent Baer is in his seventh season at Stanford and third as the Cardinal's defensive coordinator. Baer, who also coaches the linebackers, was promoted to defensive coordinator by Tyrone Willingham on February 2, 1999. He came to Stanford in `95 after serving as a defensive coordinator for 12 seasons at Arizona State, California and Utah State. He was named to Willingham's staff at Stanford University on February 9, 1995.
While at Stanford, Baer has coached some of the finest defensive players in school history, including recent graduates Riall Johnson and Willie Howard. Johnson, an outside linebacker, became the first player in Pac-10 history to lead the league in sacks in back-to-back seasons (1999-2000) while Howard, a defensive end, became only the fourth defensive lineman in school history to earn First-Team All-Pac-10 honors in consecutive seasons. Other defensive greats who have played under Baer are ILB Chris Draft, currently with the Atlanta Falcons and DE Kailee Wong, a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Baer, who was the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Arizona State for three seasons (1992-94) prior to coming to Stanford, is a 28-year veteran of the coaching ranks. He has coached at the University of California (1987-91), University of Idaho (1986), Utah State University (1977-85) and the Yokosuka Seahawks (U.S. Navy) from 1973-76. Baer is a 1973 graduate of Utah State.
Baer worked under Bruce Snyder for 14 years; six at Utah State, five at Cal and three at ASU. His Sun Devil defense in 1992 allowed just 268.8 yards per game and was ranked seventh in the nation. All-Americans Shante Carver, Craig Newsome and Brett Wallerstedt were all mainstays on Baer's ASU defense.
Prior to moving on to Arizona State, Baer was Cal's defensive coordinator for five seasons. He was part of Snyder's staff that led the Bears to a 17-6-1 record in 1990 and '91 with victories in the Copper Bowl (1990) and Citrus Bowl (1991). Baer helped lead Cal to a 10-2 record and a No. 8 national ranking in '91.
In his one season at Idaho, Baer was the defensive coordinator for a Vandals team that went 8-4 and earned a berth in the NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs. Another member of that staff, Bill Diedrick, rejoined Baer on the Cardinal coaching staff as its offensive coordinator in 1998.
At Utah State, Baer coached outside linebackers for six seasons (1977-82) before becoming the defensive coordinator and secondary coach for three years (1983-85). In two of his three years as defensive coordinator, the Aggies led the conference in total defense.
Baer also brings an international coaching flavor to Stanford, having served as the head coach of the Yokosuka Seahawks (U.S. Navy) team in Japan for four years (1973-76) before returning to his alma mater. While coaching in Japan, he was the athletic and recreation director for the entire U.S. Navy there, including the 7th Fleet, with over 100 employees working under him.
For the past 11 years, Baer has coached in and coordinated the Heisei Bowl in Nishinomiya, Japan. The game features two of the best Japanese college teams from the Osaka area and 12 college players from the U.S. Each team receives six players and two coaches from a U.S. college team.
Baer was a standout linebacker at Utah State (1969-72), where he lettered for four straight seasons. He broke the school record for tackles with 116 in 1972, a mark that stood for 10 seasons. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in physical education and recreation. Baer enjoyed a fine prep career at Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah.
A native of Logan, Utah, Baer has three sons: Brian, currently a graduate assistant coach at Stanford, Aaron James (A.J.) and Steven.
Coaching Assignments
| 1973-76 | Yokosuka Seahawks (U.S. Navy) | Head Coach |
| 1977-85 | Utah State | OLB ('77-82), Def. Coord. ('83-85) |
| 1986 | Idaho | Defensive Coord./Linebackers |
| 1987-91 | California | Defensive Coord./Linebackers |
| 1992-94 | Arizona State | Defensive Coordinator/ILB |
| 1995-98 | Stanford | ILB/OLB |
| 1999- | Stanford | LB/Defensive Coordinator |
Bowl Experience
| 1990 | Copper Bowl | California |
| 1991 | Citrus Bowl | California |
| 1995 | Liberty Bowl | Stanford |
| 1996 | Sun Bowl | Stanford |
| 2000 | Rose Bowl | Stanford |
Prominent Players Coached
| Al Smith, LB | Utah State |
| Greg Kragen, DL | Utah State |
| Steve Hendrickson, LB | California |
| Chidi Ahanotu, DL | California |
| Ken Harvey, LB | California |
| Jerrott Willard, LB | California |
| David Ortega, LB | California |
| Shante Carver, DE | Arizona State |
| Craig Newsome, CB | Arizona State |
| Brett Wallerstedt, ILB | Arizona State |
| Chris Draft, ILB | Stanford |
| Jon Haskins, ILB | Stanford |
| Riall Johnson, OLB | Stanford |
The Baer File
- Full Name: Kent L. Baer
- Date of Birth: May 2, 1951
- Hometown: Logan, Utah
- High School: Sky View High School (Utah)
- College: Utah State, 1973
- Graduate Degree: Utah State, 1974
- Children: Brian, Aaron James, Steven
- Playing Experience: LB, Utah State, 1969-72