Steve Jaksa signs four-year contract extension
Winning isn’t everything, but it sure helps when it comes to coaching.
After guiding the Central Michigan baseball team to its first conference title in six years last season, head coach Steve Jaksa is being rewarded.
Jaksa signed a four-year contract extension Monday that will keep him at CMU through the 2014 season. He will earn $83,262 for the 2010-11 season with standard cost of living increases the following three years.
“I’ve very pleased Steve’s going to be here in a leadership role to continue to chart a course for our baseball program,” said CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke. “I think it’s in terrific hands and we continue to be on a road to being one of the elite-level programs, certainly in the Midwest and we want to compete nationally.”
CMU finished the 2009-10 season 36-22 overall and clinched the regular season Mid-American Conference championship.
Jaksa said the contract extension is gratifying and a testament to his team’s success on and off the field.
“I grew up being a Chippewa, I played here and got a great opportunity 12 years later to come back and coach here,” Jaksa said. “Now I’ve been the head coach for a while and the opportunity continues for these Chippewas to compete for championships. I’m very, very proud that I continue to be able to carry on the tradition of the maroon and gold.”
Not only does a four-year extension give Jaksa the feeling he’s at CMU for the long haul, it is key for recruiting, something Heeke acknowledges.
“Continuity and stability are important factors in successful programs,” Heeke said. “Recruits understand the direction of the program, who’s going to be the leader of that program. Obviously in our case, we’ve experienced success under Steve and we want to continue that success going forward.”
Jaksa is 263-193-1 in eight seasons as head coach at CMU, including winning two MAC championships and three West Division titles. He served as assistant coach from 1999-2002 before being named head coach in 2003.
