Northwestern University Athletics
Coaches Corner: Patrick Baldwin
10/22/2015 10:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former NU standout enters third years as a Wildcats assistant coach
Patrick Baldwin made his mark on the court as a member of the Northwestern men's basketball program in the early 1990s. He still ranks as the program's all-time leader in steals while ranking second in assists. Now in his third season as an assistant coach on Chris Collins' staff, Baldwin is back home in Evanston where he's helping the Wildcats try to reach unprecedented heights. NUsports.com sat down with Baldwin in this edition of "Coaches Corner."
What has been the best part of returning to Northwestern and the Evanston area for you?
"This is a place that I love. My wife went to school here as well so to have the homecoming for not only her but for myself has really been special. Then our kids get to see us at our alma mater as well so that's been the greatest part about it."
You once sang the national anthem before a game when you were a player. When did you know you had a talent for singing?
"I knew for a long time (laughs). I grew up singing in the choir since about grade school age. It's been a talent that was, over the years, developed and I don't know if I'm any good anymore but it's still there.?
What type of musical artists do you like to listen to?
"A lot of R&B stuff, the old-school singers: Johnny Gill, New Edition. All those guys. Those have always been my favorite musicians."
You played here and your wife played volleyball here. How involved are your kids in sports?
"Very involved. They're all in some sport in whatever capacity. Patrick is in basketball and my girls are in both volleyball and basketball but they're all involved. I think the girls are going to side with their mom in volleyball."
Do you find things to be more similar or dissimilar at Northwestern as compared to when you were a student-athlete here?
"The similarity is the people that are here and that was the greatest part about being here was the tremendous people here and it's no different in my time now, in the three years that I've been back."
Is it true that you turned down a Division I college football offers to play basketball at Northwestern?
"I did, it is true. I do have a passion for baseball and football and football was definitely a possibility. If basketball didn't call my name, football would've been it."
How do you think you can relate your own personal experiences here at Northwestern to recruits and current members of this team?
"With current guys, I've seen everything that they're going through so I can have some of the answers that maybe they don't see yet. I've lived in the dorms, I've walked on campus here so I know what they're going through. With recruits, it's just giving them a scope of my days here but also the changes in what's to come for them if they decide to come here."
What's the most fulfilling part of your job?
"Working with a tremendous staff every single day. Seeing things with this program being built brick by brick and seeing the development of our guys are very fulfilling for me and I just can't wait for the rooftop to blow off."
What has been the best part of returning to Northwestern and the Evanston area for you?
"This is a place that I love. My wife went to school here as well so to have the homecoming for not only her but for myself has really been special. Then our kids get to see us at our alma mater as well so that's been the greatest part about it."
You once sang the national anthem before a game when you were a player. When did you know you had a talent for singing?
"I knew for a long time (laughs). I grew up singing in the choir since about grade school age. It's been a talent that was, over the years, developed and I don't know if I'm any good anymore but it's still there.?
What type of musical artists do you like to listen to?
"A lot of R&B stuff, the old-school singers: Johnny Gill, New Edition. All those guys. Those have always been my favorite musicians."
You played here and your wife played volleyball here. How involved are your kids in sports?
"Very involved. They're all in some sport in whatever capacity. Patrick is in basketball and my girls are in both volleyball and basketball but they're all involved. I think the girls are going to side with their mom in volleyball."
Do you find things to be more similar or dissimilar at Northwestern as compared to when you were a student-athlete here?
"The similarity is the people that are here and that was the greatest part about being here was the tremendous people here and it's no different in my time now, in the three years that I've been back."
Is it true that you turned down a Division I college football offers to play basketball at Northwestern?
"I did, it is true. I do have a passion for baseball and football and football was definitely a possibility. If basketball didn't call my name, football would've been it."
How do you think you can relate your own personal experiences here at Northwestern to recruits and current members of this team?
"With current guys, I've seen everything that they're going through so I can have some of the answers that maybe they don't see yet. I've lived in the dorms, I've walked on campus here so I know what they're going through. With recruits, it's just giving them a scope of my days here but also the changes in what's to come for them if they decide to come here."
What's the most fulfilling part of your job?
"Working with a tremendous staff every single day. Seeing things with this program being built brick by brick and seeing the development of our guys are very fulfilling for me and I just can't wait for the rooftop to blow off."
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