“Todays youth players are the future of US soccer and I want to help develop and
make players passionate about this great game through fun and learning”.
Camp Directors Chris Whalley,and Josh Baker have established Chowan University Men’s Soccer into a powerhouse program.
Coach Whalleys has over a decade of experiences at Division I and Division II level, and has developed numerous professional players but has always been committed to the community and helped develop grass roots soccer.
“My children had a great experience working with these coaches and would recommend Hawk Soccer Academy to other parents”.
Chip Rose. Chowan University Trustee.
"Coach Whalley and Coach Baker have had a profound effect on our children in our greater commnuity and are great role models for youth soccer players".
Mike Vest. Lionsbridge FC. GM/Owner
Coach Baker currently plays for Coach Whalley at Lionsbridge FC and is also the Head of Recruitment.
Josh Baker joined the Hawks coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2022 and was officially announced assistant coach of the men’s soccer program in August, 2023.
In 2023, Baker, helped the Hawks achieve their second conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance in three years. The team went 7-2-2 in conference with an overall record of 8-4-6. The Hawks defeated Converse in the Conference Carolinas Tournament final to seal their place in the first round of the NCAA tournament where they would face Lynn in Florida. Fall 2023 saw Harri Lovett, Bradley Binns, Chase Janson, Charley Leech, Tylar Elliott and Sam Deacon earn All-Conference honors along with an NCAA All-Region selection for Harri Lovett.
In 2022, the Hawks posted a 6-6-5 overall record and a 6-2-3 mark in league action. Chowan would make their sixth straight appearance in the Conference Carolinas Championship. The Hawks would post three players to the All-Conference list including Harri Lovett being named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year. Lovett and Tren Drexhage would be named D2CCA All-Region as Lovett would earn All-American status, once again, on the field and in the classroom.
Baker played at Chowan as a freshman and sophomore for Coach Whalley during 2016 and 2017. Baker picked up the Conference Carolinas Player of the Week Award, All-Conference honors and was named in the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team in 2017. After his sophomore year, Baker transferred to High Point University, NC. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Sports Management. Baker was a Big-South Regular Season Champion in 2018 and also played in the NCAA Division 1 National Tournament. During the 2018 season the High Point team were nationally ranked 12th in the nation.
Prior to returning to Chowan, Josh served as the Scholarships Operations Manager for a soccer placement company in the U.K. Baker worked closely with football clubs academies around Europe and placed talented players at elite universities in the USA. A number of these players have gone on to sign professional contracts around the world. Two of these players were drafted to Major League Soccer Clubs in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, one being in the top 15 of the first round.
Upon graduating from college, Baker carried on his soccer career playing in both Iceland and the United Kingdom. Josh has featured in the USL 2 playing for St. Louis Lions and Des Moines Menace, where the Menace were named the 2019 USL 2 Regular Season Champions. Baker currently still plays in the USL 2 for Chowan Head Coach, Chris Whalley at Lionsbridge FC. In 2023, Lionsbridge FC were crowned the Chesapeake Division Champions and made it to the USL 2 National Final in Seattle, Wa. The game was played in front of around 4000 fans, Baker scored the game-tieing goals in both the USL 2 National Semi-Final, and USL 2 National Final, he was also named man of the match in both games.