BOOM: West Virginia Is MOST UNIQUE School in Big 12, Oklahoma, SEC Gets DUNKED ON By Wren Baker
BOOM: West Virginia Is MOST UNIQUE School in Big 12, Oklahoma, SEC Gets DUNKED ON By Wren Baker  
Podcast: Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
Published On: Tue Jul 29 2025
Description: West Virginia University Athletic Director Wren Baker has definitively denied recent speculation linking him to the open Athletic Director position at the University of Oklahoma, emphatically stating that there is "no truth" to the rumors. The rumors gained traction after longtime Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione announced his retirement, and Baker's name quickly surfaced as a potential candidate due to his Oklahoma roots; he is a native of Valliant, Oklahoma, and earned his master's degree from Oklahoma State. However, Baker has consistently pushed back on the speculation. Speaking on the John Fredericks Radio Show and in interviews with various West Virginia media outlets, Baker made his position clear: No Interviews or Conversations: Baker stated, "There's no truth to any of the speculation or rumors at this point. This is like the fourth or fifth time since I've been here that people had me out the door. And not one time have I taken an interview or even had a conversation with anybody about another job." Family Happiness in West Virginia: He emphasized that he and his family are very happy living in Morgantown. "We love living here," Baker said. "It's a great place to live. I love the outdoors…more importantly, I have a wife and two daughters, and they're very happy here." Commitment to WVU: Baker reaffirmed his dedication to West Virginia University, stating, "I love being here. I feel like it's a privilege to be in this program, to represent this university, and more importantly, represent our state." He further explained that he generally doesn't address such rumors publicly, but felt compelled to speak directly to this instance. Recent Contract Extension: Further solidifying his commitment, WVU recently extended Baker's contract through 2032. This new deal, finalized in May 2024, adds two more years to his previous agreement and includes significant raises and retention bonuses, underscoring the university's desire to keep him. Baker's tenure at West Virginia, which began in November 2022, has been marked by significant activity, including navigating coaching changes (most notably, the hire of Rich Rodriguez for football) and steering the department through the complexities of the new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and revenue-sharing landscape. His success in these areas has undoubtedly raised his profile nationally, which is why his name frequently appears in discussions for high-profile athletic director openings. Despite the persistent "dot-connecting" from outsiders, Wren Baker's public statements and his recent contract extension clearly indicate his intention to remain in Morgantown and continue building the future of West Virginia Mountaineer athletics. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12 Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.