Joe Baia joins the Oglethorpe University men’s soccer program for his first season in 2016 as full-time assistant. Prior to joining the OU staff, Coach Baia spent two years as the head coach at Southern Vermont College. In his first year at the helm of the program, the Mountaineers decreased their total goals against by 25, decreased their goals against average by 1.51, and increased their save percentage by over 16 percentage points. Baia then helped guide the team to their most goals (29), assists (21), and points (79) in a season since the 2011 campaign. The 2015 Mountaineer squad also went on its first 3-game winning streak since 2011 and accumulated their fewest yellow cards (7) since 2009. Additionally, he saw a pair of first-year players earn their way to All-NECC Second Team honors.
Coach Baia also served as the assistant coach for the University of Rochester men’s soccer team in 2013, being part of the University Athletic Association Men’s Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year. At Rochester, Baia worked with players on technical and strength & conditioning training, assisted in recruiting and scouting, and facilitated camps and clinics in addition to day-to-day operations. He helped lead the team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2013 NCAA tournament with a 15-3-2 overall record.
In addition to his coaching experience at Rochester, Baia was a graduate assistant at SUNY Brockport for two years. Baia worked in the areas of technical training, recruiting, scouting, and daily operations with Brockport, and in 2011 the Golden Eagles earned a SUNYAC finals appearance and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance, finishing 13-4-2 on the year.
Coach Baia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in movement and sports studies from Springfield College in 2011 before moving on to Brockport, where he earned his master’s degree in athletic administration, graduating in 2013. Baia holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “C” license.