Marbut gets 3-year deal

Baseball: Washington State head coach Donnie Marbut has signed a three-year rollover contract that will keep him in Pullman through at least the 2013 season, athletic director Bill Moos announced on Monday.

“Donnie and his staff have done a tremendous job bringing Cougar baseball back to national prominence and for that they should be rewarded,” Moos said in a press release. “We have one of the best coaches in the country and this contract reflects the university’s commitment and belief that continued success is on the horizon.”

Marbut’s contract calls for a base salary of $170,000 for each of the three years, and includes a rollover option that by mutual agreement at the end of each season extends the contract an additional year. Additionally, there are incentives.

Assistant coaches Gregg Swenson and Spencer Allen each received base salary increases. A baseball operations coordinator position was also created and Lindsey Weber was hired to fill those duties.

Since taking over the head coaching duties in 2004, Marbut has guided the Cougars to five consecutive winning seasons, including three-straight 30-win seasons and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

Eagles 13th in preseason poll

Football: Eastern Washington is ranked 13th in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS poll. EWU was 13th in the final regular- season poll last year.

Villanova is ranked first. Besides EWU, the Big Sky Conference is represented by Montana (2), Weber State (19) and Montana State (24).

Zags part of ESPN marathon

Basketball: The Gonzaga-San Diego State game will be part of ESPN’s 24-hour College Hoops Tip-off Marathon on Nov. 16.

The GU-SDSU game will air at 8 p.m. from the McCarthey Athletic Center on ESPN2.