Mark Wasikowski is a prominent figure in American college baseball as the current head coach of the Oregon Ducks. Wasikowski played third base for 1992 College World Series champions Hawaii, Rancho Santiago, and Pepperdine. He was later twice named to All-West Coast Conference teams and served as team captain in 1993. Wasikowski was hired as Purdue’s head coach on July 24, 2016. On February 17, 2017, Wasikowski earned his first career win as a college coach.
Early life
Mark was born on March 24, 1971, in Seal Beach, California, and grew up in Los Alamitos. Wasikowski attended Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California. Mark played varsity baseball for three years, all at shortstop. On April 25, 1989, Wasikowski signed a contract as a baseball player for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Wasikowski was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers at the end of the 1993 season but decided to complete his undergraduate studies at Pepperdine instead.
Mark Wasikowski career
Playing Career
Wasikowski received his college degree in 1990 while playing for the Rainbow Warriors. He moved to the Santa Ana College Dons District in the Rancho Santiago Community College System. Due to his on-field performance for the Dons, he was offered a full drive to Pepperdine.
Wasikowski led the team in 1992 as a sophomore with 18 doubles and a .311 hit with a .466 slugging percentage, 4 homers, and 31 RBIs. He was selected to the All-WCC second team. In 1992, Pepperdine won the College World Series by going undefeated (4-0).
By the time he was in high school in 1993, almost everyone on the Waves team had changed. He was elected to the first team of the WCC. The Waves were led by Wasikowski with 224 plate appearances and 70 hits but were eliminated in the West Regional. Wasikowski was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 35th round of the 1993 MLB Draft.
coaching
Mark worked from 1997 as a research assistant at Southeast Missouri State University. After the 1998 season, Wasikowski returned to Florida as an assistant to his old coach Andy Lopez. Wasikowski accompanied Lopez to Arizona, where he played for the Wildcats for a decade. Mark started working at Oregon in 2012 as an assistant.
Wasikowski worked for former Pepperdine head coach Andy Lopez on the Florida Gators baseball team in 1999. Lopez brought Wasikowski to Arizona 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 inherited a 10-44 team that finished last in the Big Ten in 2016. With Wasikowski at the helm, the Boilermakers posted a 29-25 record and earned the #8 spot in the 2017 Big Ten baseball tournament. In 2017, Purdue improved their winning tally by 19, the highest of any NCAA Division I baseball team. Wasikowsi was welcomed back to Oregon as head coach on June 11.
Mark Wasikowski biography | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Mark P Wasikowski |
| birth date | March 24, 1971 |
| Age | 53 years |
| Place of birth | Seal Beach, California, United States |
| Profession | baseball coach |
| University | Pepperdine University |
| qualification | graduate |
Physical Statistics | |
| Height | in feet inches – 5 feet 7 inches – in centimeters – 170 cm |
| Weight | in kilograms – 77kg – in pounds – 169 pounds |
| Hair color | Brown |
| eye color | Blue |
Mark Wasikowski Family | |
| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
relationship status | |
| Marital status | Married |
| who is Mark Wasikowski’s wife? | Lori Jo |
| Children | Joelle and Kelsey |
Personal life
Mark Wasikowski and Lori Jo have been happily married for many years. They are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Joelle and Kelsey. The Wasikowski family lives in the vibrant city of Tucson. However, no details are available about how they first met and how they began their dating journey.
Mark Wasikowski Salary and Net Worth
In 2021, Mark signed a substantial five-year deal totaling $1.75 million. The terms of the agreement provide for an initial annual salary of $325,000, increasing in increments of $12,500 each year. This promising deal demonstrates the confidence Wasikowski has in his abilities and potential while underscoring 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.