Mark Wasikowski is a prominent figure in American collegiate baseball as the current head coach of the Oregon Ducks. Wasikowski played third base for the 1992 College World Series champions from Hawaii, Rancho Santiago, and Pepperdine. Later on, he was named twice to the All-West Coast Conference teams and served as team captain in 1993. Wasikowski was hired as Purdue’s head coach on July 24, 2016. Wasikowski picked up his first career collegiate coaching victory on February 17, 2017.
Early Life
Mark was born on 24th March 1971 in Seal Beach, California, and grew up in Los Alamitos. Wasikowski attended Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California.Mark played three years of varsity baseball, all at shortstop. On April 25, 1989, Wasikowski inked a contract to play baseball for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Wasikowski was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers at the end of the 1993 season, but he decided to finish his undergraduate degree at Pepperdine instead.
Mark Wasikowski Career
Playing
Wasikowski earned a varsity letter in 1990 while playing for the Rainbow Warriors. He moved to the Santa Ana College Dons’ district in the Rancho Santiago Community College System. Because of his performance on the field for the Dons, he was offered a full ride to Pepperdine.
Wasikowski led the team with 18 doubles as a sophomore in 1992 and hit.311 with a.466 slugging percentage, 4 home runs, and 31 RBIs. He was voted to the second team All-WCC.In 1992, Pepperdine won the College World Series by going undefeated (4-0).
When he was a senior in 1993, nearly everyone on the Waves team had changed. He was voted to the WCC’s first team. The Waves were led by Wasikowski’s 224 plate appearances and 70 hits, but they were eliminated in the West Regional. Wasikowski was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1993 MLB Draft’s 35th round.
Coaching
Mark worked at Southeast Missouri State University as a graduate assistant beginning in 1997. After the 1998 season, Wasikowski rejoined his old coach, Andy Lopez, as an assistant at Florida. Wasikowski would accompany Lopez to Arizona, where the latter played for the Wildcats for a decade. Mark began working as an assistant at Oregon in 2012.
Wasikowski worked for former Pepperdine head coach Andy Lopez on the Florida Gators baseball staff in 1999. Lopez brought Wasikowski with him to Arizona with him when he was hired. The Wildcats made it to the College World Series in 2004 and seven Regionals during Wasikowski’s tenure. The Oregon Ducks baseball team hired Mark in 2012.
Wasikowski took over a 10-44 squad that finished dead last in the Big Ten in 2016. With Wasikowski at the helm, the Boilermakers posted a 29-25 record and locked up the No. 8 seed in the Big Ten baseball tournament for 2017. In 2017, Purdue improved their win total by 19, the most of any NCAA Division I baseball team. Wasikowsi was welcomed back to Oregon on June 11 as head coach.
Mark Wasikowski Biography |
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Real Name | Mark P. Wasikowski |
Birth Date | 24 March 1971 |
Age (as of 2023) | 52 Years |
Birth Place | Seal Beach, California, United States |
Profession | Baseball Coach |
College | Pepperdine University |
Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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Height | in feet inches – 5’ 7” – in Centimeters – 170 cm |
Weight | in Kilograms – 77 kg – in Pounds – 169 lbs |
Hair Color | Brown |
Eye Color | Blue |
Family |
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Father | – |
Mother | – |
Sister | – |
Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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Marital Status | Married |
Who is his wife? | Lori Jo |
Children | Joelle and Kelsey |
Personal Life
Mark Wasikowski and Lori Jo have been happily married for many years. They are proud parents to two wonderful children, Joelle and Kelsey. The Wasikowski family resides in the vibrant city of Tucson. Although, no details are available about how they met for the first time and how they started their dating journey.
Mark Wasikowski Salary & Net Worth
In 2021, Mark inked a substantial five-year contract valued at a total of $1.75 million. The terms of the agreement stipulate an initial annual salary of $325,000, which will progressively rise by $12,500 each year. This promising deal showcases the confidence placed in Wasikowski’s skills and potential, while also highlighting the organization’s commitment to rewarding his contributions over the long term. Such contracts reflect the competitive nature of the industry and the value placed on experienced professionals like Wasikowski.