Lou Baiz
Lou Baiz

Bio

Lou Baiz enters his 9th season as Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for the Beavers. Prior to his arrival at ARC, Baiz spent two seasons (2012, 2013) at Folsom High School as the DC and the team finished the season 28-2 and won two section championships and the previous 16 seasons at Sacramento State.  Baiz began his coaching career in 1991-1993 at San Diego State and then returned to his alma mater Sacramento State where he coached for 17 seasons from 1994-2010.

Over the past 8 seasons at American River College, the Defense under Lou Baiz continued the strong tradition of stingy and opportunistic defense.  In 2014 the defense finished top 10 within the state in all meaningful statistical categories including rushing yards per game (75.7), Interceptions (20) and defensive touchdowns (7).  In 2015 American River College’s defense again led the Nor-Cal conference in the majority of defensive categories.  In 2016 American River College produced a strong defense posting 2 shutouts and leading the conference in points against with 13.1 per game and played their best defense in their State Championship run. In 2017 the defensive unit led the conference in several defensive statistics, finishing 9th in the state in passing defense and 13th in the state in scoring defense.  The 2018 defense was 6th in Nor Cal in scoring defense and 8th in interceptions.  In 2019 the defense finished 4th in Nor Cal scoring defense and 9th in Pass Defense.

Baiz has coached 13 All Conference Linebackers, 4 All State and two Defensive Player of the year in Rahsaan York and Cian Slone.  The list of All Conference Linebackers Austin Paulhus, Lawrence Hall, Jordan Kunaszyk, Jim Carter Jake Bellecci, George Spithorst, Justin Houlihan, Kiko Moreno, Donovan Laban, Luke Afato, Josh Tremain and Rahsaan York a two time All Conference player.  Both York with Kunaszyk earning All Conference and All State honors, and Kunaszyk receiving All American honors .  In 2017 Rahsaan York was named the Defensive MVP of Nor Cal Conference and the Defensive Player of the Year in the State of California.  He also developed and placed 12 scholarship Linebackers.

  • Austin Paulhus - University of Nevada

  • Lawrence Hall - Eastern New Mexico University

  • Derek Bryant - Southern Oregon University

  • Jordan Kunaszyk - University of California at Berkeley (JC All-American)

  • Patrick Walker - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

  • Bryce Couch - University of North Dakota

  • Rahsaan York - Kansas State (JC All-American)

  • Lucas Ruoss - Bemidji State

  • Jim Carter - Humboldt State

  • George Spithorst - University of California at Berkeley (JC All-American)

  • Justin Houlihan - Sacramento State

  • Chimobi Nwkocha - Western Illinois


During his time at Sacramento State, 32 of his players have earned all-Big Sky honors. That list includes five players who earned the honor in 2009. He has also coached six All-Americans (Ryland Wickman, Anthony Daisley, Matt Logue, Cyrus Mulitalo, Brent Webber, and Mike Brannon) and 12 Big Sky all-academic selections.

Baiz also served as the Hornets’ defensive coordinator from 2006-2009. In his first year, he guided a unit which was one of the most effective in the Big Sky. Among the eight players that were named all-conference were a pair of linebackers who were taught directly by Baiz. Mulitalo earned honorable mention All-America honors after recording a team-high 120 tackles, including 11.5 for loss. Safety Brent Webber was also named third team All-American after ranking second in Div. I - AA with six interceptions. The following year, the team had eight players named all-Big Sky. Mulitalo and Brannon also garnered All-America honors from The Sports Network.

In 2008, Sacramento State led the Big Sky in rushing defense after allowing just 99.1 yards per game against conference foes. The team also ranked second in total defense, giving up 353.8 yards per game in Big Sky play. Individually, Mulitalo and Brannon each earned honorable mention All-America honors and defensive tackle Dallas Mauga joined the two on the all-Big Sky first team.

After one season of working with the defensive ends, Baiz returned to coaching the linebackers in 2004. Under his watch, both Jimmy Ellingson and Logue were named second team all-Big Sky. Ellingson ended the season with 132 total tackles while Logue tallied 89 to rank as the team’s top two tacklers. In 2005, Logue totaled 105 tackles and was named the co-Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.

Baiz spent three years working in the San Diego State program as a graduate assistant before joining the Sacramento State staff in 1994. A native of Claremont, CA, Baiz worked with the offensive line, tight ends and linebackers in his time at San Diego State. The 1991 Aztecs finished 8-4 and earned a berth in the Freedom Bowl.

The Most Inspirational Player for Sacramento State in 1990, Baiz joined the Hornets in 1998 from Citrus College and was a standout linebacker for strong prep teams at Claremont High School.

He graduated from Sacramento State in 1991 with a degree in social science. Baiz added a Master’s degree in Recreation Administration from Sacramento State in June of 1999. He and his wife, Brooke, are the parents of 16-year old twins, Reece and Shea.

Coaching

2014-Present American River College

2012-2013 Folsom High School

1994-2010 Sacramento State

1991-1993 San Diego State