Neff Reveals Details Behind New Deal for Bakich

With Erik Bakich’s name being linked to both the Texas and Texas A&M jobs during the offseason, there was no better time than the present to get a new deal in place for Clemson’s head baseball coach.

Bakich agreed to a two-year extension back in July, with the new deal paying the head coach $1.275 million this season, $1.325 million in 2025-26, $1.375 million in 2026-27, $1.425 million in 2027-28, $1.475 million in 2028-29 and $1.525 million in 2029-30.

“It was a very proactive approach,” Athletic Director Graham Neff said on Wednesday. “Erik’s name was very active a year ago, as it was this past year and it will continue to be. Erik is a young coach, so to speak, but an incredibly successful coach in his two years here, let alone before.”

Bakich just finished up his second season with the Tigers, leading the program to its first appearance in a Super Regional since 2010. Clemson has hit the 40-win mark and earned a national seed in the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two years.

On the heels of that success, Bakich’s name was tossed around as a potential candidate for the head coaching jobs at both Texas and Texas A&M, although the head coach has always maintained that he is more than happy in Clemson.

“Yes, Erik’s name and the discussions and dialogues that we had during that time period we’re very active,” Neff said. “But a lot of those conversations, he and I had well before, so there was never a concern of a fire drill or an issue. Erik was very forthright and just candid in how he saw himself and Clemson baseball and his family, as was I, in how we view Erik and his family and his leadership of Clemson baseball. So, very excited to have the new contract support for Erik. That matters, but also there is such a fit there with him mutually that it is incumbent upon us to continue to support him and the baseball program that is going to provide great success for years to come.”

The new deal should keep Bakich in Clemson for the foreseeable future and the administration at the school is confident there isn’t a better fit to lead the baseball program.

“I feel like there isn’t a better fit for Clemson baseball than Erik Bakich,” Neff said. “And I know Erik feels that way about his family and Clemson.”

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