Former Wildcat standout Luke Barker is in his third season as part of the Chico State coaching staff. Since joining Dave Taylor’s staff in 2016, he has helped the ’Cats capture back-to-back California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) crowns and earn two trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Barker oversees the team’s strength and conditioning efforts.
Barker wrapped up a successful four-year career at Chico State in 2015, etching his name in the Wildcat record books while racking up numerous accolades for achievements both on and off the field. Dividing time between starting and relieving, Barker won 16 games and posted 18 saves to help the ’Cats capture two NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional titles. In 2014 Barker’s 18 saves led all Division II relievers nationwide, resulting in First Team All-America honors. He was also named to two First Team All-CCAA and All-West Region teams.
Barker holds the Chico State record for saves in a season (18) and ranks second in Wildcats history in career appearances (72), third in saves (18), fourth in strikeouts (196) and innings pitched (257) and 10th in victories (16).
Barker also excelled in the classroom, earning CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America and CCAA Spring All-Academic honors in 2014-15, as well as a Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards and and two CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District accolades. Barker was named Chico State’s 2014-15 Bud Hanna Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was one of just 58 spring sports athletes and 174 nationwide over the academic year to receive the NCAA’s prestigious Postgraduate Scholarship Grant.
Since graduating, Barker has continued his success on the field as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. In 2017 he made a combined 34 relief appearances for the single-A Carolina Mudcats and high-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, saving six games and posting a 3.69 earned run average.
In 2015 Barker led the Palm Springs Power to the Southern California Collegiate Baseball League championship, going 6-0 and tossing the first perfect game in the league’s history. Barker turned pro in 2016, pitching for the Traverse City Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League. His 83 strikeouts and 1.44 ERA in 42 relief appearances led to the Brewers purchasing Barker’s contract.
Barker earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Chico State in 2014 and is completing his master’s degree in biomechanics from Chico State.
