Baker to lead Lumberton football program

LUMBERTON — Taurius Baker will be the new head football coach at Lumberton High School after the Public Schools of Robeson County Board of Education approved his hiring in its Tuesday meeting.

Baker takes over the Pirates program after former head coach Dennis McFatten resigned in February.

“This is an opportunity that the Lord has always put in my heart,” Baker said. “When it came available, I applied for it. With 18 years coaching experience, I just think that this is the right time, definitely in my spirit and my heart to go there. I’m excited about getting there and just really appreciate the opportunity that (Principal Larry) Brooks and (Athletic Director Ted) White have given me, to do what I feel I’m built to do.”

“Through the interview process, he just seemed to be the person that seemed to fit,” Lumberton athletic director Ted White said. “I think he’s going to be good for Lumberton football and good for our kids.”

Baker was serving as defensive backs coach at Gray’s Creek, where he had been on the coaching staff since 2018.

He returns to Lumberton after two stints as a Pirates assistant, from 2005-11 under head coach Mike Brill and in 2013 under Joe Salas. He has also served as an assistant coach at West Bladen at South Robeson.

“My kids grew up there, graduated from there,” Baker said. “I coached there for several years. Looks like some of the staff I’m going to get are kids I’ve previously coached.”

That familiarity was a plus in the hiring process, White said.

“Obviously we’ve got to get some stability,” White said. “When I say I’m thinking Coach Baker is going to be good for kids, I think he’s going to be a good mentor, going to work with the kids. He’s got a history, he’s been with us in the past and he knows the community, lives in the community, he’ll work here, spends money in the community, so there’s some familiarity.”

The 48-year-old Baker will be a head coach for the first time.

“The experience that I’ve had over the years, as a leader — I’ve always been in that position, but maybe not in title,” Baker said. “Joe Salas titled me the assistant head coach. But I’m not a big guy on titles, it’s just who I am. They could give me any title, it’s who I am — I am a leader, I am a man of God, I love and enjoy mentoring, teaching and seeing success through others. That’s just who I am. … I have a gratitude about them choosing me to do it.”

Baker is originally from Ossining, New York, 30 miles north of New York City, and graduated from Ossining High School before playing college football at Virginia State. In addition to football, he’s also had success coaching track and field, and has been the head track and field coach at Gray’s Creek.

Baker, who will be the Pirates’ fifth head coach since 2017, takes over a program that was 2-8 last fall in McFatten’s only season at the helm. Lumberton has won two games or less in seven straight seasons and last had a winning record in 2011.

But the new head coach believes he has what it takes to turn the Pirates’ fortunes around.

“I think it always takes a sense of confidence, a sense of understanding the game and rebuilding culture,” Baker said. “When the culture’s gone down as far as it has, you have to start somewhere, and I think the start will always be the integrity, what we’re standing for. We’re going to go out there and battle, we’re going to be a tackle-swarm takeaway defense, we’re going to be highly executing, smart and play fast on offense, we’re going to set goals for ourselves that we’ll be able to accomplish, and I know that outside they will see a different product on the football field.”