No leeway for Lees: baseball coach fired after four losing seasons

WSU searches for new head baseball coach

WSU+let+head+baseball+coach+Marty+Lees+go+Tuesday+after+a+losing+record+the+last+four+seasons.

KIERSTEN BUTTERWORTH | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

WSU let head baseball coach Marty Lees go Tuesday after a losing record the last four seasons.

KATIE ARCHER, Evergreen reporter
May 21, 2019

WSU released Head Baseball Coach Marty Lees Tuesday afternoon, said Director of Athletics Pat Chun.

Lees coached baseball for four years with an overall record of 70-172-2 and 32-83-2 record in Pac-12 play. Lees was the 15th coach in WSU history.

Chun told Lees he would be making a leadership change with the baseball program.

“We appreciate Marty’s four years of service at Washington State but at this time I felt a change was necessary,” Chun said.

A national search for the next baseball coach will begin immediately. Associate Head Coach and Pitching Coach Dan Spencer will serve as the interim head coach in the series against Arizona starting Thursday.

Currently, the Cougars are ranked last in the Pac-12. WSU finished the 2017-18 season 10th in the Pac-12. The Cougars finished ninth at the end of the 2016-17 season and placed last in the 2015-2016 season.