Northridge Gives Batesole 4-Year Contract Extension

Mike Batesole, baseball coach at Cal State Northridge, has signed a four-year contract extension for $81,600 per year.

Batesole, 35, was Collegiate Baseball magazine’s 1998 national coach of the year. He has a record of 158-86-1 in four years as coach.

Only two years ago, Northridge dropped baseball, then reinstated the program two months later after a community outcry, but the uncertainty resulted in many players transferring. Batesole has been trying to rebuild the program ever since.

“This recruiting class coming in, I think, will be something special,” he said. “We decided to build this from the ground up with freshmen. I want to see this class all the way through.”

Batesole has 13 freshmen scheduled to enroll this fall. He hopes the school will soon decide to build a new baseball stadium.

“I have been impressed with Coach Batesole’s integrity and with his concern for his student-athletes and their development on and off the field,” Athletic Director Dick Dull said.