Mother and son coaches lead Wyandanch hoops to great season
Barry Baker has been the Wyandanch High School varsity basketball coach for 15 seasons. For the last two, he's had his mom, Crystal Hill, by his side on the bench.
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Barry Baker has been the Wyandanch High School varsity basketball coach for 15 seasons. For the last two, he's had his mom, Crystal Hill, by his side on the bench.
"If I need something or if I'm going through something, I just look at her and she'll be a mom," said Baker.
Crystal has coached numerous teams in Wyandanch for the past 20 years.
Two years ago, the junior varsity boys coaching job opened up and Barry encouraged her to take it.
Crystal got the job and the spot as Barry's varsity assistant that goes along with it.
"I'm mom first and then I'm a coach. And I just love it," said Crystal, who also won a state title as a basketball player in Wyandanch in the early 80s.
This year Barry and Crystal led Wyandanch to a 16-0 league record and a spot in the county semifinals.
They were both named League Five Coach of the Year.
They believe they are the first mother/son coaching duo in Suffolk County history.
The varsity players refer to Crystal as "Mama C" and say she's also like the "team mom."
"That love that she gives to Barry it comes to us, too. We see her every day. We give her hugs," said junior Anthony Wilkinson.
"She knows how to talk to the players when they get a bit out of character when things don't go their way in a game. She's the one that calms then down," said Barry.
But Crystal says Barry is the boss and her job is to take a backseat on the bench when he's in control during a game. She said she'll point things out or slip him a note with some advice during a game from time-to-time. But she admits there are times when her motherly instincts kick in.
"I know when I can say 'BARRY!' and when I can't say "BARRY!'," Crystal said with a smile.
When they won a big game against Amityville last month Barry and Crystal celebrated with a hug.
They hope more hugs and many more wins lie in their future, too.
