Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Jeremy Fleming
Michigan State Athletics Announces Jake Boss Jr. Contract Extension
2/12/2026 4:23:00 PM | Baseball
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State athletics announced a contract extension for head baseball coach Jake Boss Jr. on Thursday. With the extension, Boss' contract now runs through 2029.
"For nearly two decades, Jake Boss has steadily guided the Spartan Baseball program, with a long list of All-Big Ten players, MLB draft picks, and Michigan State University graduates," said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt. "His passion for Spartan Athletics and Michigan State University is infectious, and his commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field is resolute."
"I'm extremely appreciative to MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Director of Athletics J Batt and our Spartan Athletics administration for the opportunity to continue leading the Michigan State baseball program," Boss said. "My roots run deep here. I grew up in the Lansing area and have been a lifelong Michigan State fan. This was always the dream job for me when I started my coaching career, and the day I got the job here at Michigan State was the day that I stopped looking for other jobs. I've never wanted to be anywhere else.
"I'm just incredibly blessed that we have been able to be here for 18 years now. We've got three kids and our youngest daughter was born six days after I got the job here. It's all they have ever known, and it's a part of who we are as a family. I'm just so very proud to be a Spartan and to represent this unbelievable University. I'm very humbled and honored to go out and wear that Spartan Green & White, and compete for Michigan State University for years to come."
Boss is entering his 18th season at Michigan State on Friday when the Spartans open the 2026 ledger at Louisville.
Boss has compiled a 468-408 record at Michigan State, becoming the third MSU baseball coach to reach the 400 victories for MSU plateau, winning his 400th vs. Ohio State on April 7, 2023 and his 450th on March 7, 2025 vs. Cornell, becoming the third Spartan skipper with 450 wins, joining John H. Kobs with 576 wins and Danny Litwhiler with 489. The 468 wins by Boss are the most over a 17-year span in program history. Overall, Boss has a 493-442 career record in 19 seasons as a head coach.
During Boss' tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 46 selections (39 players) in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in seven of the last 15 years. In 2025, pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was selected in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles.
Under Boss' watch at MSU, players have earned All-Big Ten honors 65 times, including 15 First Team honorees. Most recently, Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 2025 and was the only player that was a unanimous selection to the First Team, while sophomore infielder Ryan McKay was a Second-Team selection in 2025.
The Spartans' success under Boss extends to the classroom. Under Boss, MSU players have earned 246 Academic All-Big Ten Awards, along with 24 CSC/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and five Academic All-American accolades, one Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and one MSU President's Award. Additionally, MSU has earned nine-straight American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Awards (2017-25), with MSU the only Big Ten team to have been on the recipient list each of the last nine years.
Boss and his wife, Cheryl (Schiff), have two daughters, Abigail and Grace, and a son, Jacob.
"For nearly two decades, Jake Boss has steadily guided the Spartan Baseball program, with a long list of All-Big Ten players, MLB draft picks, and Michigan State University graduates," said Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt. "His passion for Spartan Athletics and Michigan State University is infectious, and his commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field is resolute."
"I'm extremely appreciative to MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, Director of Athletics J Batt and our Spartan Athletics administration for the opportunity to continue leading the Michigan State baseball program," Boss said. "My roots run deep here. I grew up in the Lansing area and have been a lifelong Michigan State fan. This was always the dream job for me when I started my coaching career, and the day I got the job here at Michigan State was the day that I stopped looking for other jobs. I've never wanted to be anywhere else.
"I'm just incredibly blessed that we have been able to be here for 18 years now. We've got three kids and our youngest daughter was born six days after I got the job here. It's all they have ever known, and it's a part of who we are as a family. I'm just so very proud to be a Spartan and to represent this unbelievable University. I'm very humbled and honored to go out and wear that Spartan Green & White, and compete for Michigan State University for years to come."
Boss is entering his 18th season at Michigan State on Friday when the Spartans open the 2026 ledger at Louisville.
Boss has compiled a 468-408 record at Michigan State, becoming the third MSU baseball coach to reach the 400 victories for MSU plateau, winning his 400th vs. Ohio State on April 7, 2023 and his 450th on March 7, 2025 vs. Cornell, becoming the third Spartan skipper with 450 wins, joining John H. Kobs with 576 wins and Danny Litwhiler with 489. The 468 wins by Boss are the most over a 17-year span in program history. Overall, Boss has a 493-442 career record in 19 seasons as a head coach.
During Boss' tenure at Michigan State, MSU has had 46 selections (39 players) in the Major League Baseball Draft, including three or more in seven of the last 15 years. In 2025, pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was selected in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles.
Under Boss' watch at MSU, players have earned All-Big Ten honors 65 times, including 15 First Team honorees. Most recently, Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 2025 and was the only player that was a unanimous selection to the First Team, while sophomore infielder Ryan McKay was a Second-Team selection in 2025.
The Spartans' success under Boss extends to the classroom. Under Boss, MSU players have earned 246 Academic All-Big Ten Awards, along with 24 CSC/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and five Academic All-American accolades, one Big Ten Post-Graduate Scholarship Award and one MSU President's Award. Additionally, MSU has earned nine-straight American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Awards (2017-25), with MSU the only Big Ten team to have been on the recipient list each of the last nine years.
Boss and his wife, Cheryl (Schiff), have two daughters, Abigail and Grace, and a son, Jacob.
Players Mentioned
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