By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the recent fortunes of the Tennessee Tech baseball team serving as catalyst, success both on the field and in the classroom, Golden Eagle head coach Matt Bragga has received a contract extension that will keep him serving as the team's skipper through the 2017 season.
The contract extension was announced by Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.
"Matt Bragga is deeply committed to the success and welfare of our student-athletes," Wilson said. "His professionalism, dedication, and drive have led the Golden Eagle baseball program to many outstanding achievements. I have been honored to work with him, and am delighted that we have finalized an agreement so he can continue to be an exceptional leader at the University.
"Matt is a first class individual and an outstanding leader of young men. He is a man of tremendous integrity and high character, and he has done an outstanding job of coaching and leading the student-athletes in our baseball program," said Wilson. "I think great things are in store for our baseball team in the years to come.
Named the Coach of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2010 and 2013, and by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association in 2009, Bragga recently finished his 11th season at the helm of the program. In 2013, he led the Golden Eagles to their third OVC championship season in five years. In 2014, his squad finished second in the regular season and reached the OVC Tournament championship game for the third consecutive year.
"It's just good knowing you have support," Bragga said of the contract extension. "That's what I take away from it more than anything. It's neat knowing you have people from an administration standpoint that want continuity. They are trusting in what we are doing, and we are trusting in what they are doing. It's a team concept."
What Bragga and his baseball team have been doing is winning. Since 2009, the Golden Eagles have won three OVC Championships, getting regular season titles in 2010 and 2013, and the OVC tournament title in 2009.
In those five seasons, Bragga has guided six All-Americans, had 12 MLB draft picks, and posted 122 wins at home in Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Bragga's teams defeated three ranked teams, including second-ranked Vanderbilt in 2013, and Tech finished the year ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in 16 statistical categories.
The Golden Eagles have ranked in the Top 10 in scoring averaging 7.0 runs per game over that five-year span.
Bragga sees this as an opportunity to continue moving forward with the program he has led for 11 years.
"That obviously means they think we're doing pretty well," Bragga said. "So, from that standpoint, it is a great thing. From my standpoint, I'm just excited to be here, and I thank them for the opportunity.
"My first full season here we won 13 games; my second full season here we won 18. I give Mark Wilson and Frank Harrell a lot of credit. They saw this was a process, and it was being done right. I thank them for their patience, and I think their decisions have paid off. Our program is now reaping the benefits of those decisions.
"My family and I love Cookeville, and this is a place we could be for a long, long time if they would have me."
Under Bragga, Tech has posted a program record 40 wins twice, tied a program record with a 14-game winning streak in 2013, and set an OVC record with 24 wins (24-6) in conference play in 2013.
The extension will provide some added security to the players under his guidance.
"That's always a good thing," Bragga said. "You get that in recruiting a lot with players asking if you are going to be here a while. I think it helps when you can sit in an office and tell a recruit how much our athletic director, associate athletic director and everyone else believes in what we're doing by giving us a three-year contract extension.
"I think it's less of a factor for our guys that are here, because they don't even think about it," he added. "They're thinking about what they're doing on a daily basis to get better. In my mind, recruiting is where the contract extension plays the biggest part."
Bragga sees a bright future for the Golden Eagles over the life of his current contract.
"Some people laugh at me, but our vision for this program is for us to go to Omaha and play in the College World Series," he says. "Will it ever happen? Only God knows that. Do I believe it will happen here? Yes, I do. That's our goal; that's our vision. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by great assistant coaches. You can't do it without their help. Having people surround you like that, being able to bring in great young men, not just baseball players, who understand the work ethic and the grind that it takes to continue to improve a program, we can reach our goal."
Off the field, his teams also have a clear understanding of the work ethic needed to excel in the classroom. The Golden Eagles have set a program record for the highest GPA in each of the past six years.
