Washington State hires recruiting whiz Marty Lees as baseball coach

PULLMAN – Washington State athletic director Bill Moos announced the hiring of Marty Lees as the new Cougars baseball coach on Wednesday, citing Lees’ success as an assistant coach at similar programs.

Lees spent the last three years as the recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma State, where his first two recruiting classes were ranked No. 5 nationally by Collegiate Baseball. Prior to joining the Cowboys, Lees spent 11 years on the coaching staff at Oregon State, working primarily as the defensive coach for infielders and catchers, serving as the Beavers’ recruiting coordinator his final six seasons in Corvallis.

“Marty brings a proven championship mentality to Cougar baseball,” Moos said in a statement.  “He played a significant role in building successful programs at both Oregon State and Oklahoma State with whom we share many similarities. I am tremendously impressed with his reputation as a tireless worker, especially in recruiting. His solid reputation, along with his down-home upbringing and family values, make him the perfect fit.”

While in Corvallis, Lees coached conference Defensive Player of the Year Chris Kunda, recruited six consecutive top-25 recruiting classes and helped the Beavers reach College World Series berths from 2005-07.

The initial returns on the hire have been positive, with Aaron Fitt, a prominent college baseball writer for D1Baseball.com, tweeting that he “loves” the hire and that Lees “knows (the) Northwest” and is a “great recruiter.” Baseball America listed Lees No. 6 in a ranking of the country’s top 10 assistant coaches in 2013.

Lees is tasked with turning around a program that has fallen on hard times but once routinely churned out some of the West Coast’s best college teams. WSU’s 29-27 record this season was its first above .500 since 2010, but the Cougars won just 11 of 19 games against Pac-12 competition.

The Cougars are raising funds for a clubhouse to be built adjacent to Bailey-Brayton field.

Shortly before his dismissal, former coach Donnie Marbut noted that WSU’s baseball facilities are among the worst in the Pac-12.

“I’m honored and privileged to be the next head baseball coach at Washington State University,” said Lees, who is a native of Lakeview, Oregon. “This is a dream come true. Washington State is a great institution with a strong community and a place I feel I can work with quality people and raise my family.”