Wren Baker - West Virginia University Athletic Director On Details, Maintaining Perspective, & Authentic Leadership

#238: Wren Baker is the Director of Athletics at West Virginia University, taking over the role in December 2022 as the school’s 13th athletic director. A native of Valliant, Oklahoma, Baker built his career through a blend of coaching, educational leadership, and administrative success. Before arriving in Morgantown, he served as the athletic director at the University of North Texas, where he led the Mean Green to unprecedented competitive success, record-breaking fundraising, major increases in attendance, and long-term strategic planning for facilities and program growth. His earlier stops included leadership roles at Memphis, Missouri, Northwest Missouri State, and Rogers State University, where he first stepped into an athletic director role and also coached basketball.At WVU, Baker oversees 18 varsity sports, more than 250 staff, and nearly 500 student-athletes, guiding the department through a rapidly changing college athletics landscape shaped by NIL, the transfer portal, and evolving conference dynamics. His tenure has already included major coaching hires, strong fundraising performance, competitive success across multiple sports, and renewed emphasis on academic achievement. For more on Wren check him out on social as well as www.wvusports.com Enjoy the show!