Marbut signs new WSU contract

Washington State head baseball 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. “During his tenure as WSU’s head coach the program has improved each year on the field and in the classroom. He has embraced the Cougars’ storied history by reconnecting with former players and bringing them back into the program while his vision and passion for the future cannot be matched. 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. “Bill and I also share a common vision that coaching at Washington State is not a stepping stone, it is a destination and a place I would like to coach at for a long, long time,” Marbut said in the release. Since taking over the head coaching duties in 2004, Marbut has guided the Cougars to five consecutive winning seasons, three-straight 30-win seasons, along with back-to-back postseason appearances. Over the past two seasons the Cougars have recorded the second-best record (34-20) in conference play and the second-best home record (44-11) among Pac-10 schools.