Phil Baker
2020 Inducted into the New England LMSC Hall of Fame (Contributor)
1984-1989 First coach and administrator for Seacoast Masters
Started the Masters program after teaching several adult swim-fitness classes and seeing a lot of interest in an organized swim program for adults
What started as a small Sunday morning workout group grew to a very active Masters program offering 4 to 5 coached workouts a week at several different pools
Philosophy of lifelong fitness and participation at all levels
Published monthly Seacoast Masters calendar and newsletter
Club: Seacoast Masters
Phil was born in Albany and raised in western New York, moving to Maine when he was 17. He is the director of product management for WEX, where his team develops payment products, mobile apps, and vehicle tech. He currently lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife. They have two children who are in college.
Phil coached for the Westford Seals in Maine. When Phil was finishing his degree at UNH, he was looking for a part time job. Mike and Amy Parratto had recently taken over the Seacoast Swimming age group program with the goal of shifting the focus of New Hampshire Swimming up to the national level. Phil was hired as an assistant coach, coaching the program at the Portsmouth pool.
Looking to make a little extra income, Phil started swimming technique classes for the parents, with the goal of giving them a better sense and understanding of what their kids were doing. This transitioned into swimming workouts and eventually Seacoast Masters. When Phil left the program in 1989, there were 100+ Masters swimmers participating in workouts at three pools in Dover, Durham, and Portsmouth.