Dave Baker

Since 1982, Dave Baker has been a sports anchor, reporter and account executive at WKYT. Dave appears on air throughout WKYT’s line-up of news, sports and special events programming in addition to hosting a variety of University of Kentucky and SEC televised events including UK/JMI telecasts & broadcasts of University of Kentucky sports and he’s the long-time host of the UK Sports Network’s “Countdown to Tip-Off Show” on the school’s statewide radio network.

At WKYT, Dave brings the sports to viewers at noon and 6:30 and of course whenever there’s news involving the Cats. He’s also the host of the Sports Buzz podcast where he talks about more than sports and he and Brian Milam host “The Sports Buzz Podcast” on the WKYT Facebook page.

In addition to his work at WKYT, Dave has been involved with the broadcast of events for the Southeastern Conference for over two decades doing men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. Now on the SEC Network Plus, Dave calls the action for UK men’s and women’s soccer as well women’s softball. He has also twice been a part of Turner Sports “Team Casts” for The Final Four. During his time at WKYT, Dave has covered the Cats in 5 Final Four’s and 3 National Championships in 1996, 1998 and 2012.

Dave began doing events for the SEC’s syndicated broadcast package (Jefferson-Pilot, Lincoln Financial and Raycom Sports) in 1993. His assignments included host of the "SEC Football Today" pre-game show & sideline reporting as part of the game broadcast. During the winter he was a play-by-play announcer on Raycom Sports broadcast of SEC Basketball and the sideline reporter for the SEC Tournament including the Friday night in March of 2008 when a tornado hit The Georgia Dome. While the tournament was in progress, Dave and other members of the broadcast team kept anxious viewers at home and those watching in The Georgia Dome informed and reassured during one of the most unusual sporting moments in SEC History. That game, was the subject of the recent ESPN “30 for 30” special “Miracle 3”.

For two seasons, he was the host of “SEC Tailgate” on the CBS College Sports Network. And during the summers Dave continues to be a contributor on Raycom’s “Football Saturdays” program.

Dave has a long history of community commitment and involvement. The Kentucky State House and Senate have honored Dave for his work with the Malt Beverage Education Corporation, a statewide organization that promotes the message to high school students about the dangers of underage drinking. Dave also served on Kentucky Lieutenant Governor’s Steve Pence’s task force that dealt with the issue of toughening laws and enforcement relating to sex offenders. The result of that work by the Kentucky Coalition Against Sexual Assaults resulted in the passage of Kentucky House Bill 3.

Dave is a member of the Foundation Board for Baptist Health Lexington and his other civic “love” is the Children’s Charity Golf Classic, celebrating its 40thth anniversary in 2021The Classic raises money for 30 different children’s organizations in central Kentucky and since its inception has raised over 15 million dollars. In 2004, Dave was named recipient of the Jose Ferrer Award, the group’s highest honor.

“I’m blessed to be at a place where we’re not just 'broadcasters' but we’re encouraged to be involved in our communities as well”, Baker said.

Dave is a 1978 graduate of Franklin High School in Franklin, Ohio and a 2005 inductee into the Franklin High School Hall of Fame. He’s a 1982 graduate of Georgetown (KY) College.