EUGENE — Saying goodbye to the University of Oregon wasn’t an easy decision for Mark Wasikowski.
When an opportunity to return arose this month, Wasikowski — a former Ducks assistant under George Horton who took the head coaching job at Purdue in June 2016 — suddenly had another tough call on his hands.
“It was very difficult to leave here three years ago, and ironically very difficult to return,” Wasikowski said Friday afternoon during an introductory press conference in Autzen Stadium’s End Zone Terrace. The 48-year-old Wasikowski, whose hiring was announced Tuesday, is the 13th head baseball coach in Oregon history.
“What made it difficult in both cases were the relationships that were developed both here in Eugene, Oregon, and in West Lafayette, Indiana. That being said, the relationships created during my time as a Duck and our love for the University of Oregon, the community, and the desire to take this program to the highest level are the reasons why we returned.”
Wasikowski inherits a program that hasn’t participated in an NCAA tournament regional since 2015. The Ducks dropped baseball after the 1981 season but brought it back in 2009 with Horton at the helm.
In 11 seasons at Oregon, Horton compiled a 375-281-1 record (151-169 conference) with five NCAA tournament bids. Horton and the Ducks mutually agreed to part ways in late May.
“Coach Horton started this program … and built it to where it is now,” Wasikowski said as his wife, Lori Jo, and daughters, Joelle and Kelsey, sat to the right of the podium. “And it’s a totally different place than where it was when he took that first run at getting to (the College World Series). … The program is in a very good position and ready to be elevated to another level.”
A Southern California native who started at third base for Pepperdine’s 1992 national title team, Wasikowski coached at Pepperdine, Southeast Missouri State, Florida and Arizona before coming to Oregon in 2012. The Ducks made four postseason appearances in Wasikowski’s five years as an assistant.
Wasikowski moved to Purdue and went 87-82 (36-34 Big Ten) in three seasons, including a trip to regionals in 2018 — just the third in program history. It was a dramatic turnaround for the Boilermakers, who had gone 60-149 in the four seasons before Wasikowski’s arrival.
“As we went through our search process, it became very clear that it was Mark who was the right person for the job,” Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said. “We witnessed what Waz did in his years here. His work ethic, his tremendous amount of energy that he brings to work and to this sport every single day.
“He has a track record of excellence. Excellence as a recruiter at the highest level, excellence in student-athlete development, and excellence in building a championship culture.”
Wasikowski listed five veteran college baseball coaches as his mentors: John Bryant, Mark Hogan, Horton, Andy Lopez and Don Sneddon. He described his coaching style as an amalgamation of the five minds.
“It’s going to be from what I’ve learned, good and bad, from all those men,” Wasikowski said.
Wasikowski did not speak with Horton before accepting the new job. He said his relationship with Horton is still good and called the longtime skipper “a special person.”
For the majority of Horton’s tenure, the Ducks relied on pitching and opportunistic offense to win games. Wasikowski favors a more balanced approach.
“Pitching and defense is a sustainable product; that’s just something that goes along with championship programs,” Wasikowski said. “But I also want to see the baseball hit through the gaps, I want to see the baseball hit over the fence. I want to have an exciting offense.”
Wasikowski hopes to have a coaching staff assembled “in the following days.” Purdue promoted assistant Greg Goff to take over for Wasikowski and pitching coach Elliott Cribby bolted for Washington.
While putting together a staff, Wasikowski also will begin to conduct a thorough examination of the returning roster.
“I’m excited,” said senior-to-be first baseman Gabe Matthews. “I met (Wasikowski) my senior year coming in to the University of Oregon. He seems like an intense dude and I’m excited to get going with him.”
Wasikowski welcomes the challenge of competing with established Pac-12 powers Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA. The Beavers, last year’s CWS champions, are 36-18 in the Civil War series since Oregon reinstated baseball.
“The Oregon State program up the road has had some tremendous success in recent years, and that’s not to be looked past whatsoever,” Wasikowski said. “The baseball in this area, the baseball in the Northwest, the baseball in the Pac-12 has historically been outstanding and I believe it will continue to be.”
Oregon hosted a super regional in Wasikowski’s first season with the program, but the run ended early when Kent State spoiled the party at PK Park. It was the closest the Ducks have come to reaching the CWS since their lone appearance in 1954.
Wasikowski believes it can be done at Oregon.
“The vision is seeing the Oregon players on the grass at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, before winning a national championship,” Wasikowski said. “Now it’s time to fulfill the dream.”
USC (Jason Gill) and Oregon State (Mitch Canham) also formally introduced their new head baseball coaches Friday. Washington State hired New Mexico State’s Brian Green this month.