June 28, 2012

Jeremy Birmingham
KentStateReport.com Staff Writer

After the single most successful season in the history of the Kent State baseball program, head coach Scott Stricklin has reached a tentative agreement on a contract extension, despite some overtures from "some school up north."

After last week's season-ending College World Series defeat to South Carolina, Stricklin was obviously proud of the achievements of his team, and was bold in asserting that they had "made it" on the national stage.

"I think we made a statement that we belong here, and we made a statement that we're a program that should be recognized nationally, not just regionally," Stricklin told The Associated Press after the game. "That's what I'm really proud of."

Stricklin's decision to re-up with the Golden Flashes reinforces his belief that he is where he belongs after a school record 47 victories.

The three-time MAC Coach of the Year was recently rumored to be a candidate for the head spot at the University of Michigan, and he addressed their interest in an email to quiet those talks.

"I know some of you have been speculating that the coaching staff might be moving on after our historic season," Stricklin wrote. "A certain school up North came calling and we decided that Kent State and what we have built here was too good to leave."

In his eight years as the head coach for Kent State, Stricklin has compiled an impressive 314-170 record, including four MAC regular season titles, five MAC Tournament championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances. The details of his extension are not yet finalized, but should be forthcoming within a matter of weeks.