Athletic director Heather Lyke took a significant step toward further stablity in Pitt’s baseball progam, signing coach Mike Bell to a new contract that runs through the 2027 season.

Bell has an 83-87 record in four seasons after replacing longtime coach Joe Jordano before the 2019 season. Nine of Bell’s players have been named All-ACC and five were selected in the MLB Draft.

This season, starting pitchers Matt Gilbertson (second team All-ACC) and Billy Corcoran (third team) became the first pair of Pitt hurlers to earn all-conference honors in the same season.

“We are thrilled to extend coach Bell’s contract and have him continue to lead our baseball program,” Lyke said in a statement. “The trajectory of the baseball program is a tribute to he and his staff’s expertise in recruiting, developing and preparing our team to compete in the ACC, as well as the quality of student-athletes he has recruited to Pitt.”

Bell concluded his best season at Pitt this year with a 29-27 record. The victory total was tied for the program high since joining the ACC in 2014. The Panthers won series against top-five teams Louisville and Clemson. Overall, Pitt won three other ACC series.

Competing in the ACC Tournament for only the third time, Pitt advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2018 as the No. 11 seed.

“Pitt is where my family and I want to be, and we couldn’t be happier to be in Pittsburgh for years to come,” Bell said in a statement. “Thanks to Chancellor (Patrick) Gallagher, Heather Lyke and her executive staff for their continued support, belief and confidence in our program’s continued growth on the baseball diamond, and, more importantly, our quest to compete for championships.”

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