Washington State University announced that head baseball coach Nathan Choate has signed a three‑year contract extension that will keep him through the 2031 season. The agreement was revealed after the Cougars captured the 2026 Mountain West Conference title and secured their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2010, marking a turning point for the program.
A Season of Firsts
The 2026 campaign delivered a 31‑28 record, the most wins the team has posted since 2010, and set a program‑record team GPA of 3.45 for the fall semester. The Cougars also earned five Academic All‑District selections, underscoring a culture that values performance in the classroom as much as on the diamond.
Among the standout performers, pitcher Nick Lewis was named Conference Pitcher of the Year, the first in school history, and later collected All‑Region honors. Max Hartman broke the single‑season record with eight triples, while Gavin Roy established a 44‑game on‑base streak that ranks among the longest in program annals.
The roster’s impact extended beyond individual accolades; six players earned All‑Mountain West Conference honors, and the team posted seven series victories for the first time since 2017, including a sweep of seventh‑ranked Oregon State. WSU also opened the season with a win at Alabama, an eventual College World Series participant, and posted 18 road victories, the second‑most in two decades.
Choate expressed gratitude to President Cantwell and Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow for their unwavering support, and he looks forward to building on the momentum as the program prepares for its new Pac‑12 schedule. The extension signals a long‑term commitment to sustained excellence both competitively and academically.