Gazing out over Bailey-Brayton Field, Marty Lees sat and inhaled the crisp fall air before he began explaining his journey to Washington State University. Collecting numerous accolades and trophies along the way, Lees has proved he knows how to build a championship-caliber program.

After passing on other coaching opportunities and waiting for the right scenario, Lees, WSU’s new baseball head coach, is ready for the challenge of turning the Cougs into winners.

“I wasn’t going to just jump at any job,” he said. “This is a job I want to have for the rest of my life.”

A native of Lakeview, Oregon, Lees has spent much of his life in the Northwest and was familiar with Pullman from his time as the associate head coach at Oregon State.

After 11 years with the Beavers, where he won back-to-back National Championships in 2006-2007, he moved on to assume the role of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma State. Lees helped the Cowboys reach three straight NCAA Tournament berths, winning the Big-12 Conference Championship in 2014, and bringing in a top five recruiting class in 2013-14.

It wasn’t easy for him to leave either of those programs. Lees had built strong relationships at each university, and sees Oklahoma State Head Coach Josh Holliday as one of his best friends. Each decision to leave brought some tears, but Lees and his family know the opportunity to grow in Pullman is best for all of them.

“Pullman has always been a very attractive place to me,” he said. “This is a place that has always been very family oriented, a place like I grew up in: a small town that has a big-time atmosphere.”

Holliday, brother of MLB star Matt Holliday, credits Lees with helping develop OSU into the successful program that it is today. Although Holliday says he will miss the Lees family dearly, he is also excited to watch the growth of Cougar baseball under Lees’ leadership

“Marty did great work here. He was central to everything we did, and we experienced tremendous success,” he said in an email. “You don’t come across many coaches who possess his expertise and energy. Washington State will experience a strong infusion of talent and energy, and will grow faster than expected.”

His knowledge and experience are two things that have helped him gain the respect of his team early, even without spending much time with them. With many players deciding to participate in summer leagues, these first few weeks of the semester have been the only time the team has been together. One of the players who participated in a summer league was sophomore infielder Shane Matheny, who was excited when he found out Lees was hired.

“The programs that he’s been to and the success he’s had there,” Matheny said. “Over the summer I played with some guys who played for Lees at Oklahoma State, and they had some really good things to say about him, so I’m just real excited.”

Outside of winning, the main thing Lees enjoys about coaching baseball is building relationships with his staff and his players. His first months on the job have been spent establishing relationships with WSU athletics as a whole. From Athletic Director Bill Moos to secretaries and even the grounds crew, Lees has felt welcomed and has found everyone easy to get along with.

“It’s way more than what I ever imagined as far as the people that are on this campus that are willing to help you any way possible to make things easier for you,” he said. “When you’re surrounded by people like that who are motivated to help and serve others, it motivates me, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Lees and his staff are dedicated to creating a positive environment for their players. These early stages of the offseason are spent building relationships with the players, identifying what “makes them tick” and what can help make them better. And as time goes on, he hopes to teach as many life lessons as baseball lessons.

“I always use the term pay it forward; it was the same term used on me,” Lees said. “I wouldn’t be in the position I’m at if I didn’t have help going through this process and people helping me with the things I need to understand about life.”