The SUNY Oneonta athletics family is mourning the recent passing of two Hall of Famers, David Bailey and James Baker, both longtime members of the physical education and athletics department.  Bailey, who was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, passed away on February 23 while Baker, inducted in 2010, passed eleven days ago on March 18.

Bailey was the first athletic trainer hired for the athletics department in 1963.  Bailey spent the next 16 years with SUNY Oneonta as the athletic trainer while serving in various capacities when needed.  During his tenure he was in charge of intramurals and was the golf coach at different times and, in 1977, assumed the responsibility of being the men's athletic director until his departure in 1979 for the United States Sports Academy.

Bailey was the Director of Sports Medicine at the Sports Academy until 1984 before moving on to become a physical therapist for Orthopedic Associates in Mobile, AL until 2000.  In 2000, Bailey worked as a part-time athletic trainer at Spring Hill College until retiring in 2002.

Bailey received a B.S. in health and physical education from SUNY Cortland in 1954.  He earned a certificate of physical therapy from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1955.  Prior to arriving at Oneonta, Bailey was a health teacher in the Cortland public school system.

Baker began his tenure with Oneonta in 1965 as an instructor of Health Education after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Cortland. He was promoted to an assistant professor in 1969 and received continuing appointment in 1972. He was transferred to the Physical Education department in 1984 and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1989. He retired from the college in December of 2002.

During his tenure as a professor of health and physical education, Baker coordinated and developed minors in health & wellness and sports management along with developing and organizing the college's skiing and snowboarding classes. He gained certifications as an NYS athletic official in football, soccer and swimming and is a certified professional ski instructor of America. When he retired, he was the Chair of the physical education department, a position he held since 1988.

As the men's tennis coach from 1985 until his retirement, the Red Dragons never had a losing season and won 80% of their matches. In 1987, he was selected as the SUNYAC Coach of the Year. In 1991, his men won the Rolex Division III tennis championship. Baker coached several conference champions during his tenure as coach.
 
Link to Bailey's Obituary
Link to Baker's Obituary