Now Seckman has committed to making Baer its new head football coach.
The Fox C-6 Board of Education voted to hire Baer at its April 24 meeting.
Baer married his high school sweetheart, Kristin, and the couple lives in Arnold with their three sons: Cohner, 10; Blaike, 7; and Camdin, 4.
During his high school days, Baer was a running back for the Jaguars, and Kristin was a cheerleader at the same time. Baer’s younger brother (by a year), Jon, was the team’s quarterback.
“This was a job I always wanted,” said Nick Baer, 30, who was a varsity assistant for eight years and the offensive coordinator the last two seasons at Seckman. “I knew everything I had to do to prepare me for this job. There were a lot of heavy hitters apply for this job so I had to prepare accordingly.”
Doug Baker was Seckman’s head coach the last three years and led the Jaguars to the most wins (six) in a season in school history in 2018. Baker is taking a job in administration at Excelsior Springs.
Baker and his staff rebuilt team pride in what had been a downtrodden program. Baer said he’s ready to take the next step.
“I’ve already talked to the boys about what it’s going to take to move ahead,” he said. “Before last season, my senior year (2006-2007) was the last time we won five games. Over the next 12 seasons, we won 20 games (combined). I told them that nothing’s given. Everybody had us circled for a ‘W’ last year.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree at Southeast Missouri State University, he graduated with a doctorate from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He’s taught math the last eight years at Seckman, but will be moving to physical education and weight room training. He’ll be paid a $6,500 stipend to coach the Jaguars and run the weight room.
Seckman athletics and activities director Ryun Kasten said there were 18 applicants for the position, but Baer was the only internal candidate. Some of the potential coaches had head coaching experience, which Baer did not have.
Kasten said the success Seckman has had the last three years helped draw interest to the job, but hiring from within would mean less of a transition for the other coaches and the players.
“We’re excited to have him on board,” Kasten said. “Being an alumni and assistant for eight years, Nick will bring youth and excitement to the program and he will make a connection with former players. He played here, his brothers played here. He really wanted to establish an alumni culture, whether it’s the football booster club or hiring assistants.”
Kasten said when he learned of Baker’s departure, he had planned to hire someone with head coaching experience. He said the school’s football program still has room to grow.
“The process we have in place for all hires is a great process,” Kasten said. “We got voices and feedback from players, coaches and administrators and Nick came out as the top candidate. There’s still some administrative stuff he’s working through. As far as the Xs and Os and relationships with parents and players, those things have been established.”
Baer said the lack of a consistent message helped drag the Jaguars into the pit of several winless or one-win seasons. He said the opposite of that has helped turn Fox into a consistent winner under head coach Brent Tinker.
The Warriors crushed Seckman twice last season, including a 62-35 victory in the Class 5 District 1 tournament. The last time the Jaguars beat Fox was Baer’s senior year.
“That’s what I want to bring. I want to coach here for a long time and end my career here,” Baer said. “I respect what (Fox coaches) have done across town.”
The Baers have just built a new home. Now Nick Baer has to rebuild Seckman’s offense from scratch after losing players to graduation who accounted for 37 of the team’s 39 touchdowns last year. Dynamic playmakers such as Dylan Hawk (1,125 all-purpose yards, 9 TDs), Drew Campbell (840 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and quarterback Seth Lounsbury (636 rushing yards, 419 passing yards, 12 TDs rushing) helped the Jaguars top 50 points twice last season, but are seniors for a couple of more weeks before they grab their diplomas.
Baer said he won’t change the team’s offensive philosophy.
“Offensively, we’re still running the triple option,” Baer said. “It’s an offense that gives us a lot of opportunities to score. Last year we were a big-play team.”
Junior Joe Stuckmeyer will take over at quarterback in 2019, Baer said. Stuckmeyer was pressed into service after Lounsbury was injured against Fox in the first meeting and Baer feels like he’s ready to be the full-time starter.
“He’s our guy. The season goes as he goes,” Baer said. “When you run triple option, the QB is key. He’s a smart kid. He’s a leader in the school and that will translate nicely to the football field.”
The offensive line is in much better shape with left tackle Jake Seidel returning as its anchor. When the Jaguars need tough yardage, they run behind Seidel, who has committed to playing Division I football at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Guards Colton Critchlow and Logan Smith also return to the line.
Raising three young sons and coaching them in baseball, being hired to lead the football team at his alma mater and changing teaching jobs has Baer in a whirlwind right now. But he said he’s been working toward this since he graduated from Seckman.
“This is where I’m from. I want our football players to be loyal to this community and school and be proud of where they’re from,” he said. “My family is very important to me. I’ve seen this job wear people down. My goal is to find that balance between being a great father and football coach.”