Ohio State extends contract of baseball coach Greg Beals

>>RELATED: Beals has big goals for Buckeyes

Beals has a record of 297-230-1 at Ohio State, where he has won two Big Ten championships made three NCAA tournament appearances in nine years.

This season the Buckeyes went 36-27 and became the first No. 7 seed to win the Big Ten baseball tournament.

Ohio State is still looking for its first NCAA Super Regional appearance since 2003, a goal Beals identified before the Buckeyes went 1-2 in the Nashville regional last weekend to see their season come to an end.

“We’re doing it with a young, talented club,” said the 1988 Kenton Ridge graduate who had to replace four regulars in the field and all three of his primary starting pitchers this season. “The future is bright. Recruiting is going well. I’m excited for this weekend, but I’m excited about our future as well.”

>>READ MORE: Kenton Ridge grad Beals wins second Big Ten baseball title in nine seasons at Ohio State 

In a statement, Ohio State associate athletics director Shaun Richard said the school appreciates the leadership Beals has brought to the program since succeeding the legendary Bob Todd.

“He led a young, talented ball club to a championship season and another NCAA Regional appearance this spring,” Richard said. “We look forward to him continuing to push this program as we strive to achieve the next step in advancing to a Super Regional and beyond.”

Twenty-two Ohio State players have been taken in the MLB draft over the past nine years, including outfielder Dominic Canzone and closer Andrew Magno this week.

“He handles relationships very well,” Magno said prior to the NCAA tournament. "Great motivator. Very good at preparing the players and getting us ready to do what we need to do. He’s really focused on the mental side of things from what I’ve seen, and that’s been very important to our success and how we go about our business.”

Including a stint at Kent State, Beals has a career record of 540-432-1.