From UCLA:
LOS ANGELES – UCLA head baseball coach John Savage and the University have agreed to a contract extension running through the 2015 season, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced Tuesday.
Entering his seventh year as head coach when the college baseball season opens this Friday, Savage has led UCLA to four NCAA postseason appearances in six seasons in Westwood. He guided the Bruins to their third appearance at the College World Series last summer, advancing to the best-of-three finals for the first time in school history.
“We are very excited about the success of this program,” Guerrero said. “Under John’s exceptional and passionate leadership, UCLA baseball is poised for long-term excellence. Just last season, he guided the team to its first-ever appearance in the finals of the College World Series and set a school record for single-season wins. I have enjoyed the distinct pleasure of working with John for almost a decade. UCLA has a bright and promising future with him at the helm.”
“I am very appreciative to Dan Guerrero for his support of UCLA baseball,” Savage said. “Not only are we excited about our upcoming season, but also about the long-term future of this baseball program. We look forward to building upon our success, returning to the College World Series and winning a national championship.”
Last season, UCLA won a school-record 51 games and earned its first-ever victories at the College World Series. Savage coached the Bruins’ pitching staff to a nation-leading 700 strikeouts, the highest single-season total at UCLA. The Bruins won and hosted their first Super Regional, overcoming early deficits to defeat Cal State Fullerton in a best-of-three series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Savage became the first head coach at UCLA to lead the baseball program to three consecutive postseason appearances, igniting that streak in just his second season at the helm. UCLA played in the 2006 NCAA Malibu Regional, swept the 2007 NCAA Long Beach Regional and advanced to the finals of the 2008 NCAA Fullerton Regional. UCLA’s Super Regional appearance in 2007 marked the program’s first since 2000.
UCLA has continued to succeed in the professional ranks under Savage. In his tenure as head coach, the Bruins have produced 42 major league draft selections. Three pitchers who played under Savage at UCLA have pitched in the major leagues (Hector Ambriz, David Huff and Josh Roenicke).
Over the last five years, Savage has overseen the installation of over 1,000 chairback seats, a brand new natural grass playing surface and a state-of-the art 10,500-square foot hitting facility at Jackie Robinson Stadium