TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana State University has announced that head baseball coach Mitch Hannahs has signed a contract extension that will keep him in sycamore blue through 2028.
The desire for an extension is not surprising in the least from the school’s side of things, as Hannahs just recently oversaw one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history. The Sycamores won the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, hosted and won an NCAA regional tournament and advance to the Super Regional for the first time in program history. And Hannahs himself was the recipient of the league’s Dan Callahan Coach of the Year by his peers for the first time in his career.
During the 2023 season ISU was able to win 45 games, the most in Hannahs’ time as head coach, 24 of those wins coming in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Hannahs graduated from ISU in 1989, and is a 2010 inductee into the school’s athletic hall of fame.
The Sycamore head coach has posted at least 30 wins in six seasons and ten or more wins in Missouri Valley Conference play in seven of the last ten years. His 311 career wins are second all-time in ISU baseball history.
ISU news release
“I continue to be very thankful to serve as the head coach at Indiana State University,” Hannahs said. “Thank you to my coaching staff and to my past and current players for their effort and support over the years. Indiana State and the community of Terre Haute is a very special place for me and my family. I’m grateful to President Curtis and Sherard (Clinkscales) for their commitment to improving all aspects of Indiana State baseball.”
“We are so proud of Coach Hannahs and this incredible group of student-athletes on their historic 2023 season. He truly cares about holding his players and our university to a high standard,” ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said. “We are thrilled Mitch is staying, and we look forward to next season and many more after. Indiana State is thrilled to continue the momentum from the 2023 season for many years to come.”
“We are thankful that Mitch has chosen to extend his leadership of our storied program. ISU is very fortunate to have a coach of his caliber,” Athletic Director Sherard Clinkscales said. “Mitch is the foundation of the baseball team, and he has done a terrific job building a group that engages not only with our alumni and students, but across the Wabash Valley and beyond. Mitch and Amy care about this community, and we are excited they’ll be staying.”
Eleven Indiana State athletes were honored on the MVC postseason All-Conference team, including Connor Fenlong (MVC Pitcher of the Year) and Grant Magill (MVC Defensive Player of the Year).
