The University of Minnesota and head baseball coach John Anderson have agreed to a one-year contract extension. The extension will keep the long-time coach with the Gophers through the 2024 season.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the tradition-rich Golden Gopher baseball program at the University of Minnesota,” said Anderson. “I feel blessed and grateful to continue my 49-year connection with the University of Minnesota that started in the fall of 1974 when I stepped on campus as an undergraduate student and a member of the baseball program.”
Anderson is entering his 43rd year in charge of the program for the 2023-24 season. He is the winningest baseball coach in the Big Ten with a 1,365-997-3 overall record and a 614-414 record against conference opponents. Inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association in 2008, Anderson has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year eight times, most recently in 2018 after leading Minnesota to a Big Ten Championship and the Super Regional for the first time in program history.
In his tenure, the Gopher baseball team has 11 Big Ten regular season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and made 19 NCAA tournament appearances. Under his watch, 115 Gophers have been drafted to the MLB. With two selections in the 2022 draft, the Gophers extended their draft streak to 35 consecutive years. The streak is the longest in the Big Ten with Ohio State (11 years) and Michigan (nine years) as the next closest Big Ten teams.
“I am excited to work with our talented coaching staff, student-athletes and all the gifted colleagues in the athletic department to provide our student-athletes with a meaningful and positive college experience. We will all work together to prepare our student-athletes for the next 50 years of their lives and mentor them into becoming their best version of themselves and champions in the classroom and on the diamond,” said Anderson.
The ‘U’ finished the 2023 season going 6-4 in their final 10 games, including a win over No. 19 Maryland on the road. With a core group of players set to return next season, the Gophers will look to build on their end-of-season success in 2024.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
