LONG BEACH, Calif. – Dirtbags head coach Troy Buckley has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Long Beach State through the 2022 season, LBSU Athletics Director Andy Fee announced on Monday. The extension adds an additional four years to Buckley’s existing contract and includes an increase in base salary along with supplemental compensation based on the team’s success both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to have Coach Buckley here at Long Beach State and are committed to his vision for Dirtbags Baseball,” said Fee. “Last season was a tremendous success for the program, the university, and the entire Long Beach community, and we look forward to what Coach Buckley and his staff can accomplish in the years ahead. We believe he is the right coach to carry on the great tradition of Long Beach State baseball and get the Dirtbags back to Omaha.”
Buckley led the Dirtbags to a Big West Conference championship in 2017, and ultimately an NCAA Super Regional Appearance. Long Beach State earned the right to host the Long Beach Regional, then ultimately the Long Beach Super Regional at Blair Field. The Dirtbags finished the season as a consensus Top 10 team in the nation for the first time since 1998.
“I am very grateful and appreciative of this opportunity to continue to lead this historic program going forward,” said Buckley. “Success on and off the field is a culmination of a lot of individuals and groups’ efforts. I would like to start off thanking President Conoley, Athletics Director Andy Fee and our university community for their commitment and trust in me to continue leading this program. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all of the players, staff, fans and boosters for all of their efforts and sacrifices to put us in a championship position. This truly has been, and will continue to be, a cumulative effort to sustain excellence on and off the field.”
Buckley just completed his seventh season as Dirtbags head coach in 2017, compiling an overall record of 228-172-1 during that time. He has led Long Beach State to the postseason in three of the last four years, including last year’s NCAA Super Regional appearance, just the third in program history. Over the past two seasons, the Dirtbags have gone an impressive 80-42-1, picking up consecutive Big West Pitcher of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors and producing four All-Americans.
At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Buckley was named Big West Coach of the Year, joining predecessors and mentors Dave Snow and Mike Weathers as recipients of that award at Long Beach State. During the offseason, Buckley worked alongside Snow as pitching coach for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in North Carolina.
The baseball program also set a record for season ticket holders in 2017 and has already surpassed that number in anticipation of the 2018 campaign. A total of 65,470 fans attended a game at Blair Field last season, setting a program record for single-season attendance.
Eight Dirtbags were selected during the 2017 MLB Draft in June, with seven signing contracts with their respective teams. During Buckley’s seven seasons as head coach, 31 former players have gone on to sign MLB contracts, with eight players being drafted within the first 10 rounds.
Buckley first came to Long Beach State in 2001, serving seven seasons as an assistant coach under both Snow and Weathers. After spending two seasons as a pitching coordinator in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Buckley returned to the Dirtbags as Associate Head Coach in 2010, and was named head coach the following season. He has the fourth-longest tenure of any coach in program history, trailing John Gonsalves (19 years), Snow (13), and Weathers (9).
