Sept. 17, 2012

Rodriguez receives contract extension at Pepperdine

After guiding Pepperdine to West Coast Conference title this past season, head coach Steve Rodriguez (left) has received a four-year contract extension at his alma mater through the 2016 season.

The Waves were picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll, but captured the conference championship for the first time since 2006 with a 16-8 league mark. Rodriguez was named WCC Coach of the Year for the first time. Pepperdine reached the championship game of the Stanford Regional and finished the season with a 36-23 record.

Rodriguez is entering his 10th season as head coach at Pepperdine and has posted a record of 299-229 in nine campaigns. The Waves have played in six NCAA regionals under Rodriguez, reaching the championship game five times.

An All-American second baseman at Pepperdine in 1991 and 1992, Rodriguez helped the Waves win the 1992 national championship. He was the WCC Player of the Year in 1992 and was taken in the fifth round of the MLB Draft that year by the Boston Red Sox. Rodriguez played professionally for seven years. He reached the Major Leagues with the Red Sox in 1995 and also played for the Detroit Tigers that season.

 Rodriguez returned to Pepperdine as an assistant coach for the 2000 season and was an assistant for four years before being promoted to head coach.

(photo courtesy of Pepperdine Media Relations Office)