On the heels of one of the finest seasons in Kansas baseball history, including a program record 42 regular season wins, Director of Athletics Travis Goff has announced that 2025 Big 12 Coach of the Year Dan Fitzgerald has signed an amended six-year contract with the Jayhawks.

Fitzgerald led Kansas to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014 this past season, while overseeing a truly historic season in Lawrence. The Jayhawks set program records in Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (seven), conference series sweeps (five), road wins (20), come-from-behind wins (26) and home runs (104).

"This contract is a reflection of Dan Fitzgerald's remarkable impact during his time in Lawrence," Goff said. "The program's progression on the field is well documented and certainly unprecedented. And this extension demonstrates our belief that we can compete for conference championships and CWS appearances under his leadership. Dan is an elite leader and mentor for the student-athletes in his program, creating a culture of accountability, holistic excellence and strong character."

"Fitz and his wonderful family have been an ideal fit for our department and the community, and we are excited for the future of Kansas Baseball under one of the very best leaders in the country."

The investment in the coaching staff for KU baseball is part of a broader investment in the sport of baseball at Kansas. An increase in scholarships, plans to implement revenue sharing for student-athletes in the program, and the prioritization of facility investment present an opportunity for Kansas baseball to be a leader in the Big 12 and nationally.

Prior to the 2025 season, Hoglund Ballpark saw several upgrades, including a new field surface installed by Mammoth Sports Construction. Kansas Athletics and Mammoth Sports Construction are continuing to evaluate and analyze future facility investments at Hoglund Ballpark.

"Kelly and I would like to thank Chancellor Girod, Travis Goff, Sean Lester and the entire administration for the opportunity to continue to build Kansas Baseball," Fitzgerald said. "I am so appreciative to my staff who have worked relentlessly to recruit and develop the right student-athletes. This past season was a major step forward – one that gives us a great road map for the journey ahead."

Fitzgerald was introduced as the Kansas coach in June of 2022 and wasted no time turning around a team that finished last in the Big 12 the season before his arrival. He and his coaching staff of Brandon Scott, Tyler Hancock and Jon Coyne quickly overhauled the roster, announcing the addition of a transfer class that was ranked in the Top 25 nationally by Baseball America and D1Baseball.

Fitzgerald, who has 99 victories over his first three seasons as the Kansas coach, won his debut in February of 2023 with a 5-1 victory over Valparaiso. Fitzgerald's fingerprints were all over KU's early success in his first season. The Jayhawks ultimately won 25 games and doubled their conference win total and improved their overall win total by five games. Kansas also tied a program record with 75 home runs, taking advantage of Fitzgerald's offensive background.

The first season under Fitzgerald also boasted a seven-game winning streak, which included a series win at No. 19 West Virginia. Kodey Shojinaga was named Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year under Fitzgerald's tutelage and the Jayhawks upset No. 1 seed and nationally ranked Texas in the opening round of the Big 12 Championship.

The Jayhawks took another positive step in Fitzgerald's second season. Landing the No. 1 junior college recruiting class for the second straight year, Kansas assembled the No. 9 overall transfer class in the country per D1Baseball and the best class in the Big 12 Conference.

Kansas finished year two of the Fitzgerald era with a 31-23 (15-15 Big 12) record and made it to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship for the first time in 11 years. Fitzgerald and his staff once again produced the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in Dominic Voegele.

Shojinaga and Voegele won the award in back-to-back years after the Jayhawks had never had a prior winner. KU won a series against No. 3 TCU, marking the first series win against a top-five ranked opponent since 2010 and the 15 Big 12 wins tied a program record.

Following the season, Kansas produced six draft picks, which marked the most KU players selected in the top 20 rounds of an MLB Draft in program history. Two others signed professional contracts, giving KU eight players from the 2024 roster moving on to play professional baseball, marking the most players in a single year in program history.

All that set up an incredibly memorable season in Lawrence in 2025. The Jayhawks opened the year by winning their first eight games of the season to equal their best start to a season in 11 years. Kansas then tied an NCAA record in March when it hit five consecutive home runs at Minnesota en route to a 17-3 start—the best 20-game start in 135 seasons of Kansas baseball.

Five days after the five homers at Minnesota, Kansas was ranked No. 22 in the NCBWA Top 25 poll, marking the first national ranking for the Jayhawks since 2014. The Jayhawk faithful rewarded the team's efforts by setting a Hoglund Ballpark attendance record on March 28 against Oklahoma State with 2,660 fans. That game came in the middle of a nine-game winning streak, which is tied for the longest winning streak of the Fitzgerald era to this point.

The Jayhawks never relented the rest of the season, winning five of their final six conference games, including a three-game sweep at No. 14 West Virginia to close the regular season and finish with a 20-10 record in the Big 12 to lead all conference teams in Big 12 victories. The sweep on the road against a ranked West Virginia team was the first sweep on the road against a Top 25 opponent since 2003 and gave Kansas 42 regular season wins, four more than its previous best.

Fitzgerald, who was named the first Big 12 Coach of the Year in program history following the West Virginia trip, led the Jayhawks to the Big 12 Championship semifinals for the second straight year. Kansas was then selected for the Fayetteville Regional in the NCAA Tournament, making its first regional appearance in 11 years and continuing to show the rapid rise of the Jayhawks under Fitzgerald.

"Travis and I have a shared vision and excitement for the future of Jayhawk Baseball," Fitzgerald explained. "His leadership and trust have been a major foundational piece of our success.

I am very honored and blessed to be the head baseball coach at the University of Kansas and confidently look forward to the future of KU Baseball."