By Jacob Dimond
jake@yelmonline.com
Twenty-nine years can go by in a blink, as Dan Baker, a now-retired teacher and coach at Yelm High School, can attest.
The longtime Yelm High School teacher said his time at YHS went by all too fast, and he reminded current school faculty members, whether it’s a teacher or a coach, to enjoy the ride while it’s there.
Baker taught math at Yelm High School for 29 years, coached track for 26 years and cross country for 25 years.
“Embrace and enjoy every minute. There’s so much going on, so be sure to embrace it,” he said. “Continue to get training so you can get better at your craft. We have fantastic parents that will help us along the way, so engage with them as well. Enjoy it because it goes really fast. You want to make sure you’re able to reach each of those athletes you can and help them create memories that will last a lifetime. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have this opportunity that I had and to work with so many kids through teaching and athletics.”
Baker said one of the greatest aspects of teaching and coaching is that he still has former athletes and students approach him in stores to say hello. He said he enjoys hearing from them and he enjoys seeing them be successful in their lives.
Prior to coaching and teaching at YHS, Baker was already familiar with the community as he attended Yelm schools beginning in his seventh-grade year. He later participated in track and cross country at YHS.
“I didn’t come to Yelm by mistake,” Baker said. “I planned to come back to Yelm when I was starting my career. The people that I worked with in the math department are great people. Teaching was my calling, but coaching was my passion. It’s been really fun to come back and work in those same spots and hopefully continue having a good impact on kids. It’s been a really positive experience all the way around.”
Baker said he learned several life lessons during his journey as a teacher and coach.
“The biggest thing is you have to be persistent and decide what you want, go after that goal and work for it. Nothing happens by accident,” Baker said. “If you make plans and work for it, you can make incredible things happen both in the classroom and in athletics.”
He said recent YHS-graduate Zach Walsh is a great example of that. Baker noted Walsh began his running career on the junior varsity team at YHS but through hard work and perseverance, and several broken school records along the way, Walsh accomplished a lot as a Tornado. Walsh is now a member of the division-one University of Nevada-Reno Wolfpack track and field and cross country programs.
Baker said some of his best memories as a coach included trips to state championship meets and seeing some of the strong individual performances along the way.
“My very first year was when Jesse Carlson set the record in the 800 meters. It was a fantastic race. In some years, that would’ve been a first or second place, but he had a fantastic group in that race,” Baker said. “Last year, with the cross country team, Kailey Slevin in the last half of the season really learned how to race. To watch her get better each week and make it to the state meet was amazing. Those kids are going to grow up, and when they leave Yelm, they’ll take those skills with them, wherever they decide to go and do.”
He added that when athletes work hard, it typically leads to great moments.
“We’re trying to instill habits and skills that will transfer to their life and their work where they find ways to be successful, or when something gets difficult they realize they can get through it,” Baker said. “Along the way, we’ve had some great coaches there, too. Last year’s group would have continued to be successful for a long time.”
Baker said it was a pleasure to coach with Phil Longborg, Gaylord Strand, Cami and Chris Stovall and “many others” along the way. He added that it’s great to see many former Tornado track athletes go on to coach at high schools in Washington.
Following his retirement, Baker said he didn’t have much of a plan other than doing “everything and anything” in his first year away from working and coaching. He mentioned that it was a sweet feeling being able to turn off his 5:30 a.m. alarm, which he’s had set for years.
“I plan to go a few nights away every month and start getting to projects around the house I couldn’t get to while I was teaching and coaching,” Baker said. “Retirement has already been good, and I think there’s going to be much more of that in the future.”
Baker added that he plans on following Yelm’s track and cross country programs even after his retirement. He described those sports as lifelong passions of his.
