WKU Baseball Head Coach Marc Rardin agrees to four-year contract extension

WKU Athletics Press Release

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball Head Coach Marc Rardin has agreed to a four-year contract extension with WKU, which runs through the 2030 season, Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced on Wednesday.

In four seasons as the head coach, Rardin has compiled a 145-89 record for a .620 winning percentage, the best in WKU Baseball’s 107-year history. Rardin led the Hilltoppers to their first Conference USA Tournament Championship in 2025, capped by an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for WKU since 2009.

Over the four years of Rardin’s WKU tenure, the Hilltoppers hold the second-best winning percentage among DI programs in the state of Kentucky. The Hilltoppers have won 30 or more games in each of the last four seasons and the 145 wins during that time mark the second most in a four-year period in program history.

Seven Hilltoppers have been signed by a professional team during Rardin’s time on The Hill. Six are still active in their respective organizations, including 2025 Conference USA Player of the Year and All-American outfielder Ryan Wideman.

“Marc Rardin’s contract extension is much deserved, and we are thrilled he continues to lead our baseball program,” said Director of Athletics Todd Stewart. “He has produced one of the best four-year stretches in our program’s more than 100-year history after inheriting a program coming off an 18-36 season and 12th place finish in Conference USA. Under his leadership we have recruited talented players with a winning mindset who play an exciting style of baseball while renewing confidence in our fan base. His phenomenal leadership and dedication have completely turned our program around.”

“Over four years ago Todd Stewart trusted me to be the right guy to start making WKU Baseball relevant again” said head coach Marc Rardin. “With our hard-working coaching staff, we have transformed every aspect of the program. While the work isn’t done and challenges are still in front of us, my family and I are thrilled that Todd and the WKU administration continue to believe in what we’re doing by giving us an extension to stay on The Hill.”

Rardin also remarked “From the classroom successes to historic achievements on the field, we feel some of the best is still to come. I can’t ever thank Todd enough to have the vision and belief to hire a junior college coach as their head baseball coach. Go Tops!”