Chris Baum is in his 22nd season as an assistant coach, working with Nebraska Wesleyan's high jumpers, pole vaulters and multi-event athletes. Baum has personally coached 30 national qualifiers, 18 of whom earned a combined total of 34 All-America awards and four national titles. he was also recognized as a winner of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year award on Jan. 31, 2004.

In the fall of 2011, Baum was inducted into the NWU Athletic Hall of Fame as he won the Spirit of the Plainsmen Award.

A three-time Conference Champion and All-American himself, Baum is a 1991 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health (K-12). He has earned his masters in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied post secondary athletic administration.

Baum also currently works as a physical education instructor at Humann Elementary School. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a son Jacob and daughter Avery.