Cohen receives contract extension through 2015
Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen, who led the Bulldogs to within one game of the College World Series and a No. 15 national ranking, has received a contract extension through the 2015 season, director of athletics Scott Stricklin announced last Thursday.
"John and his staff have done a tremendous job of leading our baseball program back to national prominence by recruiting top talent and instilling toughness," Stricklin said. "I look forward to John being our head coach for many years to come."
Cohen's new four-year contract includes an increase in base salary from $250,000 to $262,500. He will continue to receive a salary supplement from the Bulldog Foundation.
"It's a privilege to work at Mississippi State University under the leadership of Dr. Mark Keenum and Scott Stricklin," said Cohen. "I'm so appreciative of the support of the Bulldog Nation. This is a great time to be part of the Mississippi State family."
In his third season as MSU's head baseball coach, Cohen directed Mississippi State to a four-year best 38-25 record in 2011. State returned to postseason play for the first time since 2007, sweeping its way to the championship of the NCAA Atlanta Regional and, with an impressive showing in the Gainesville Super Regional, coming within a win of the program's ninth advancement to the NCAA College World Series.
The Bulldogs, tabbed in a preseason SEC coaches' poll for a sixth-place finish in the SEC West, recorded the program's biggest single-season turnaround in conference play. State finished its 2011 campaign a game out of first place in the SEC West and posted a 14-16 overall league record, a school-best eight-win improvement over 2010.
Mississippi State also garnered its first season-ending national ranking since 2007 this week with a No. 15 placement in the final USA TODAY/ESPN poll of coaches.
For additional information about Mississippi State athletics, please visit http://www.mstateathletics.com.
