Vin Baker recently attended a University of Hartford basketball game incognito, slipping into Chase Arena unnoticed after traveling with the Milwaukee Bucks. He sought to relive the energy of his alma mater without fanfare.
Baker’s Quiet Visit and Lasting Legacy
“I wanted to experience this without anyone knowing I was coming,” Baker explained. “The energy, the students, the fans, and the alumni made it feel like old times.” The Hawks secured a narrow victory over rival Johnson & Wales that evening. Baker, UHart’s most celebrated alumnus, once graced Sports Illustrated as college basketball’s “best kept secret” in that very gym.
Baker enjoyed a 13-year NBA career, amassing over 11,000 points and earning four All-Star nods. His journey includes profound challenges and triumphs, but his UHart roots now gain permanence with his name adorning a new $2.4 million outdoor athletics and recreation complex set to open next fall.
Facility Features and Fundraising
The complex boasts six tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and one basketball court, all illuminated for nighttime use. It emphasizes student experience amid UHart’s shift from Division I to Division III athletics.
“This facility will outlive me,” Baker stated. “To have a university honor you by naming something after you—I’m in awe and super grateful. This surpasses everything, especially since I started here at 17.”
The Milwaukee Bucks, who drafted Baker in 1993, contribute to the design. Former Bucks president Peter Feigin leads their efforts. Key donors include alumnus Loic De Kertanguy, a 1960s tennis player, and alums Anthony Assante, Mike Daglio, their Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers, and Kathy Behrens.
UHart’s Athletic Transition
UHart’s move to Division III, announced post-2021 NCAA Tournament appearance, initially drew criticism but now shows stability. Recent additions include a new track and field facility plus expanded club and intramural options.
“The execution has been seamless,” Baker noted. “Everyone who experienced the D-I era felt uneasy, but the university remains special under President Lawrence Ward. We share the same vision and spirit.”
Baker’s Remarkable Path
At 54, with roots in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, Baker overcame alcohol addiction, achieving 15 years of sobriety. He now coaches the Bucks, forging a mentor-like bond with Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom he calls a “second son.” An ordained minister, Baker officiated Giannis’s wedding.
“Coaching the planet’s greatest player is an amazing opportunity,” Baker said. “Winning a championship in 2021 with the team that drafted me is a fairy tale. I’ve worked under terrific coaches like Doc Rivers and Mike Budenholzer.”
Last November, Baker launched the Vin Baker Recovery Center in Milwaukee, an intensive outpatient facility for addiction recovery. He eyes future involvement with UHart post-NBA.
“I’m 15 years sober, opened a recovery center in the city that drafted me, won a championship there, and now my alma mater honors me,” Baker reflected. “Through life’s highs and lows, emerging on this side is a blessing—full circle.”
