15 WEEKLY 2026
JUNE
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 21 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
SUSAN DECKER RESIGNS AS BAKER UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Story published at bakerwildcats.com BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — After more than two decades of service and leadership, Baker University Director of Athletics Susan Decker has resigned from her role and accepted a new opportunity at the NCAA level. Decker served the Baker athletic department for nearly 21 years after first arriving at the university in 2000 as head women’s basketball coach. She was named Director of Athletics in 2022 and led the department through continued success both competitively and academically during her time in the role. “Susan has been a deeply valued member of the Baker community for almost 21 years, and her impact on our institution is both meaningful and lasting,” Baker University President Jody Fournier said. “Since first joining Baker in 2000 as head women’s basketball coach, Susan has shaped the lives of countless student-athletes, mentored coaches and colleagues, and helped build a strong and supportive culture within our athletics programs.” “My time at Baker will always hold a special place in my heart,” Decker said. “I will miss the incredible coaches, student-athletes, and staff who made these years some of the most meaningful and rewarding of my life. The relationships, memories, and experiences we shared will stay with me forever.” During Decker’s tenure as athletic director, Baker made 43 national postseason appearances and captured seven conference championships. The Wildcats produced 33 NAIA All-Americans and an individual national champion during that stretch while also earning 25 conference athlete of the year honors and 11 conference coach of the year awards. Additionally, the Wildcats maintained a strong
academic standard under Decker’s leadership. BU has boasted at least 21 NAIA Scholar Teams in each of the last three academic years and had all 24 eligible programs receive the designation in 2022-23. The NAIA Scholar Team honor is awarded to programs that maintain a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Before becoming athletic director, Decker played a key role in several areas within the department as an Assistant Director of Athletics. She helped develop the department’s faculty mentorship program aimed at strengthening relationships between student-athletes and professors while also assisting with the study hall program and serving on the university’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Decker also provided leadership in the areas of Title IX and gender equity planning as Baker’s Senior Woman Administrator while assisting with budget development and departmental operations. Prior to moving into administration, Decker spent 11 seasons as head coach of the BU women’s basketball program from 2000 to 2011, compiling 183 career wins, which still ranks first in program history. She later returned to Baker in 2017 as Assistant Director of Athletics and was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Charles Morris Administrator of the Year in 2020. Reflecting on her time at Baker, Decker expressed gratitude to those who helped shape her career and supported her throughout her tenure. “First, I want to thank Dan Harris for giving me my first head coaching opportunity and introducing me to Baker,” Decker said. “I am deeply grateful to Nate Houser, who believed in me and gave me a chance to
THANK YOU, BALDWIN CITY! A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Citywide Garage Sales — whether you hosted a sale, shopped the listings, or picked up a guide.
Even with the rain, we saw a great turnout and heard from many people who found the guide helpful. We feel like the garage sale guide improves a little more every year, but we also know that we don’t know what we don’t know.
return to Baker, and to Dr. Lynne Murray, who gave me the opportunity to lead this department, an opportunity I will always cherish. Kyle Pattrick, Matt Hevel and Lynsey Payne, thank you from the bottom of my heart for working beside me over the past several years and making this job even more rewarding.” Along with her work at Baker, Decker previously served as a volleyball and basketball official in Kansas and was part of the first all-female officiating crew to work a high school boys basketball game in the Sunflower League in 2020.
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THE MAPLE WEEKLY TEAM