GREG BAKER

Gregory Ryan Baker | AKA "Stud"

greg baker

Born in Anaheim (Orange County) California in 1978, Gregory Ryan Baker was the first born of three Baker boys. Greg's siblings , Matt and Josh Baker were born a few years later in the same hospital.

Greg's parents who were both athletes growing up wanted their kids to involve themselves in sports just as they did. Greg was introduced to the sport of water skiing at the young age of 2. At two years old, on a small river south of the border Greg was up on two skis crying his eyes out like a little baby. He did not know that this was what he would be doing for the next few years of his life.

Greg was introduced to soccer at the age of six,when he signed up for AYSO in Region 67, while he was still consistently waterskiing both recreationally and competitively. The AYSO team he played for was the Rowdy Rebels. The Rowdy Rebels' coach gave Greg his first nickname, Stud, a nickname that he later found out was given to him because he was not a stud at all.Stud and the Rowdy Rebels went all the way to the playoffs that year and won the bronze medal ending their season.

Then it was back to water skiing where Greg practiced whenever he could.

By the age of 13 Greg had practiced and competed well enough to be ranked 14th in the nation in his division for slalom skiing. However that ended up being the peak of his water skiing career due to the love he was developing for soccer.

Soccer had brought many good times to Greg's life not to mention a sweet nickname and best of all, his mullet. The mullet hairstyle made the stud look amazing as he ran down the field distracting the competition with his flowing hair and rosy cheeks.

The years flew by playing soccer, water skiing, having fun until it was time for Greg to get his first job as a pizza man. Greg became an employee for New York Pizzeria where he was a part of a team of pizza experts, flipping pies and creating pizza dreams for people. It was an exciting time for him. Now he was juggling AYSO, pizzas, water skiing, school, and about to play club for the first time. Greg was actually good enough to make a club team when he started to get serious about the sport.

After making the club team he also made the Varsity soccer team at his high school as a sophomore.This ended up not being very impressive considering that his team never made the CIF playoffs during his stint.

As his high school career was winding down Greg had a decision to make, go to college or work. He decided to do both attending a community college and coaching his first club team at the age of 17. Greg took all of his necessary coaching courses and was state and nationally licensed by 21 years of age.

While coaching and attending school, Greg also worked for his uncle in the auto detailing world, cleaning cars and helping the company known as Time To Shine work their way up to a national rank of #8. This rank was obtained at the National Detailers Convention (NDS) in Arizona in 1999.

There were a lot of things to contemplate as Greg approached his 22nd birthday, such as where to work, attend school, coach soccer. Greg decided that he would join the work force and start coaching soccer full time. A small club known as Cal Heat signed Greg on as a paid coach/trainer.

Changing/adding other clubs along the way, Greg was learning all he could by winning, losing, and trying to develop. Once he developed enough coaching skills he applied at St Lucy's high school for varsity coach and got the job! Greg's teams won 4 league titles, several tournaments titles, and even made it to the CIF finals where they lost to a very good Santa Margarita high school team 2-1.

After coaching high school greg was offered a coaching position at Azusa Pacific University where he gladly became part of a staff that brought GSAC titles, Regional titles, and National championship finalists to the school.

Once Greg was ready he then began working for the Slammers organization which is where he learned the art of developing the soccer youth. While coaching with the Slammers Greg's teams were known as possession style teams that were skillful and fun to watch. His teams won many tournaments including CSL League and League Cup. They also were a part of many Surf Cup and Sate Cup championship games.

After his time with the Slammers Greg and his brother started So Cal Training, LLC where they love to work with players privately and semi privately on their skills.