Aaron Baker earns posthumous Hy Popuch Award
1/25/2023 2:26:00 PM | General, M Club
Former senior associate athletic director recognized for tireless work at MU
Hy Popuch Award History
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University M Club has announced former senior associate athletic director Aaron Baker as the winner of the Hy Popuch Award, given to the student-athlete alumni organization's person of the year.
Baker's family will be present as he is posthumously honored during the men's basketball game against Villanova on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Fiserv Forum. He will also be recognized during the University's Alumni Award Weekend, May 31-June 2, 2023.
Baker, who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, spent 19 years with Marquette Athletics, first arriving as an intern in the marketing department in 2002. He returned in 2004 as the coordinator of facilities and event management after a year as a ticket manager and promotions coordinator at the University of California-Bakersfield. Aaron was promoted to assistant athletic director in July 2007.
"Everyone in the M Club and with any affiliation to Marquette Athletics was crushed to hear the news of Aaron's struggles this fall," said M Club President Jim Packee. "It is only fitting that we honor a man who gave so much to the University over the last 20 years. Aaron was a constant presence at all Marquette events and did so much work behind the scenes to elevate the University and provide elite competition opportunities for our student-athletes."
Baker served a lead role in several NCAA tournaments and championships, including acting as the tournament manager for the 2017 and 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at the BMO Harris Bradley Center and Fiserv Forum.
In addition to his work hosting four NCAA men's basketball championships, he acted as the tournament director for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regional hosted by Blackwolf Run Golf Course. Baker also directed several BIG EAST Conference Championships in women's soccer, volleyball, cross country and the men's golf team's Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills and Milwaukee Country Club.
"Aaron was a beloved supervisor to the numerous M Club members who worked with him on the facilities staff over the last two decades. He had a large impact on the Marquette Athletics family," Packee said.
His event management duties included scheduling, set-up and direct supervision of all home athletic contests as well as the planning and hosting of postseason conference and NCAA Championship events. He oversaw event and facilities operations for the department and served as the direct contact for men's basketball game management. He also oversaw all department capital projects, directing $38 million in capital improvement for Marquette Athletics since 2013.
A native of Montana, Aaron received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science from the University of Montana in 2000 and Master of Science in Sports Management from UW-La Crosse in 2003.
Baker is survived by his wife Barbara and five children, Tyson, Ava, Kyle, Lacy and Wyatt.
ABOUT THE HY POPUCH AWARD
In 1954, the Marquette University M Club decided to present an award annually to someone who has demonstrated loyal and dedicated service to Marquette athletics over a long period of time. The honor was originally named The Man of the Year Award and was renamed following the inclusion of women to the Marquette University Athletics Program in the 1970s.
The award is named for Hy Popuch, a former M Club president and recipient of the M Club Man of the Year Award in 1974. The award name changed from "Man of the Year" to the "Hy Popuch Award" to honor Popuch, who died at the age of 73 on March 16, 1984 of a stroke. The First recipient of the Hy Popuch Award was former Marquette University Athletics Director, Hank Raymonds, who received the award in 1987.
He graduated from Marquette in 1943 after having earned varsity letters in tennis and football. In addition to his activities for Marquette, Popuch was inducted into the Jewish Community Center's Athletic Wall of Fame in 1968 for his many community services. He was also named 'man of the year' by the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association for his sponsorship of youth athletic teams and banquets that he spearheaded over many years.
Popuch also received the Marquette Metropolitan Area Award, the Jerry Lewis Award for work against Muscular Dystrophy and the Certificate of Achievement Award from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department.
MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University M Club has announced former senior associate athletic director Aaron Baker as the winner of the Hy Popuch Award, given to the student-athlete alumni organization's person of the year.
Baker's family will be present as he is posthumously honored during the men's basketball game against Villanova on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Fiserv Forum. He will also be recognized during the University's Alumni Award Weekend, May 31-June 2, 2023.
Baker, who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, spent 19 years with Marquette Athletics, first arriving as an intern in the marketing department in 2002. He returned in 2004 as the coordinator of facilities and event management after a year as a ticket manager and promotions coordinator at the University of California-Bakersfield. Aaron was promoted to assistant athletic director in July 2007.
"Everyone in the M Club and with any affiliation to Marquette Athletics was crushed to hear the news of Aaron's struggles this fall," said M Club President Jim Packee. "It is only fitting that we honor a man who gave so much to the University over the last 20 years. Aaron was a constant presence at all Marquette events and did so much work behind the scenes to elevate the University and provide elite competition opportunities for our student-athletes."
Baker served a lead role in several NCAA tournaments and championships, including acting as the tournament manager for the 2017 and 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at the BMO Harris Bradley Center and Fiserv Forum.
In addition to his work hosting four NCAA men's basketball championships, he acted as the tournament director for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regional hosted by Blackwolf Run Golf Course. Baker also directed several BIG EAST Conference Championships in women's soccer, volleyball, cross country and the men's golf team's Marquette Intercollegiate at Erin Hills and Milwaukee Country Club.
"Aaron was a beloved supervisor to the numerous M Club members who worked with him on the facilities staff over the last two decades. He had a large impact on the Marquette Athletics family," Packee said.
His event management duties included scheduling, set-up and direct supervision of all home athletic contests as well as the planning and hosting of postseason conference and NCAA Championship events. He oversaw event and facilities operations for the department and served as the direct contact for men's basketball game management. He also oversaw all department capital projects, directing $38 million in capital improvement for Marquette Athletics since 2013.
A native of Montana, Aaron received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science from the University of Montana in 2000 and Master of Science in Sports Management from UW-La Crosse in 2003.
Baker is survived by his wife Barbara and five children, Tyson, Ava, Kyle, Lacy and Wyatt.
ABOUT THE HY POPUCH AWARD
In 1954, the Marquette University M Club decided to present an award annually to someone who has demonstrated loyal and dedicated service to Marquette athletics over a long period of time. The honor was originally named The Man of the Year Award and was renamed following the inclusion of women to the Marquette University Athletics Program in the 1970s.
The award is named for Hy Popuch, a former M Club president and recipient of the M Club Man of the Year Award in 1974. The award name changed from "Man of the Year" to the "Hy Popuch Award" to honor Popuch, who died at the age of 73 on March 16, 1984 of a stroke. The First recipient of the Hy Popuch Award was former Marquette University Athletics Director, Hank Raymonds, who received the award in 1987.
He graduated from Marquette in 1943 after having earned varsity letters in tennis and football. In addition to his activities for Marquette, Popuch was inducted into the Jewish Community Center's Athletic Wall of Fame in 1968 for his many community services. He was also named 'man of the year' by the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association for his sponsorship of youth athletic teams and banquets that he spearheaded over many years.
Popuch also received the Marquette Metropolitan Area Award, the Jerry Lewis Award for work against Muscular Dystrophy and the Certificate of Achievement Award from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department.