Baldwin City ? Rick Weaver, Baker University’s men’s basketball coach for the past 25 years, has announced his plans to retire from coaching at the end of the 2009-10 academic year.

“It’s been a quick 25 years coaching at BU,” Weaver said. “It’s never easy to give up something that you enjoy, but I’ll be turning 60 before next season starts … it’s time. The early announcement will hopefully assist with the search process, and I will do everything I can to help with the transition. It’s been a privilege to coach so many great kids over the last quarter century.”

Weaver will continue to teach and assist with fund-raising through 2011-12 at the university.

Weaver in 1985-86 became the 10th head men’s basketball coach in Baker University’s history. During his tenure at Baker, he has guided the Wildcats to 352 victories, the school’s first Heart of America Athletic Conference basketball title, in 1989, and a trip to the NAIA national tournament in 1996, when the Wildcats set a school record with 25 victories.

Eleven Wildcats have earned All-HAAC first-team honors under Weaver. Two players — John Smith (1989, 1991) and Brent Dorsey (1998) — were named conference player of the year. Dorsey was Baker’s first NAIA All-American in 1998.

Weaver, a three-time Heart of America Conference Coach of the Year, graduated in 1972 from Morningside College.