Georgia baseball coach David Perno receives new contract

ATHENS - David Perno, who recently led the Georgia baseball team to its third College World Series appearance in the last five seasons, has agreed to a new five-year, $2.25 million contract, Director of Athletics Damon Evans announced on Wednesday.

"I'm excited we have reached an agreement with David to ensure he will continue to build upon the tremendous success our baseball program has enjoyed under his guidance," Evans said. "David has done an outstanding job, not only with producing winning teams but also creating great enthusiasm surrounding Georgia Baseball. I'm looking forward to the future and the continued excellence of his teams."

Perno will earn $450,000 per season over the next five years, taking the agreement through the 2013 campaign. The new contract replaces a five-year agreement slated to run through 2011 worth just over $300,000 per year.

"First of all, I'd like to say that I really enjoyed my discussions with Damon after the College World Series, and we're excited about the future of the Bulldog baseball program," Perno said. "I'm very pleased with the opportunity to be at Georgia and hope to be here a long time. The support we've received from our administration is very much appreciated."

Perno, an Athens native, is one of just a dozen coaches to lead three teams to the College World Series in their first seven seasons as a head coach. All told, he has been a part of Georgia's last five College World Series teams. Perno was an infielder on the Bulldogs' 1990 NCAA Championship squad, and he was an assistant coach for Georgia's 2001 team that also won the SEC Championship. Since succeeding Ron Polk as head coach in 2002, Perno has led his alma mater to the 2004, 2006 and 2008 College World Series, highlighted by a runner-up effort last month.

Perno was named 2004 National Coach of the Year by Baseball America and College Baseball Insider, the same season he led Georgia to a share of the SEC Championship and a third-place showing at the CWS. He secured SEC Coach of the Year accolades in 2004, an honor he received once again in 2008.

Player development is another highlight of the Perno era. A total of 25 Bulldogs have had the opportunity to play professional baseball after coming to Georgia as non-drafted prospects. Headlining that list are Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields, the 2008 SEC Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Last month, Beckham was the No. 8 overall pick of the first round by the Chicago White Sox, while Fields was the 20th player chosen by the Seattle Mariners.