Arizona State is doubling down on Willie Bloomquist - and for good reason. The head coach is set to receive a two-year contract extension that would keep him at the helm of the Sun Devils through the 2028 season. The extension, pending approval from Arizona’s Board of Regents, would kick in on July 1, 2026, right as his current deal expires.
The new contract reflects the school’s growing confidence in Bloomquist’s leadership. His base salary would jump from $390,000 to $475,000 for the 2026-27 season, and then to $500,000 in 2027-28.
But that’s just the starting point. Built into the deal is a robust system of performance-based incentives that could significantly boost his earnings - especially if he can guide ASU back to college baseball’s biggest stage.
Let’s break it down.
If Bloomquist leads the Sun Devils to a College World Series title, he’s looking at a 25% salary bump and a $200,000 bonus. Even reaching the championship game would net him $125,000.
A trip to Omaha alone? That’s worth $100,000.
And if the team makes it to the Super Regional or earns a Regional berth, those milestones come with $25,000 and $15,000 bonuses, respectively.
There’s more on the table, too. Bloomquist could earn an additional $15,000 for being named either National Coach of the Year or Big 12 Coach of the Year - or $30,000 if he wins both. And regular-season success is rewarded as well: $25,000 for winning the Big 12 regular-season title, $10,000 for reaching the Big 12 title game, and $15,000 for taking home the conference tournament crown.
That last one could be especially meaningful in 2026, with the Big 12 Tournament moving to Surprise, Arizona - a home-state advantage for ASU after years of the event being held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
But before they get there, the Sun Devils will face an early-season gauntlet. ASU is set to compete in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field from February 27 to March 1, squaring off against a trio of SEC powerhouses: No.
25 Texas A&M, No. 4 Mississippi State, and No.
14 Tennessee. It’s a tough draw, but it’s exactly the kind of challenge Bloomquist wants for his team.
“We’ve never shied away from competition in the nonconference,” Bloomquist said. “We’ve made a tough schedule for a variety of reasons.
One, it helps our RPI, and two, I want our guys to be battle-tested. So when and if we do get to postseason, we’re ready for whoever we play.
It’s not going to be something we’re surprised about - we’re going to be used to playing good teams.”
That mindset has already started paying dividends. Last season’s success helped ASU land the 13th-best transfer portal class in the country, according to D1 Baseball. And as Bloomquist enters his fifth season in charge, expectations are climbing - not just internally, but across the college baseball landscape.
It’s been 15 years since Arizona State last made it to the College World Series - the longest drought in program history. But under Bloomquist, the trajectory has been steadily upward. Each of his first four seasons has either matched or surpassed the previous year’s win total.
“I think every year I’m developing as a coach,” Bloomquist said. “The attention to detail that we’re trying to define as a staff - those are the things that are important.
We’re getting better and refining the areas we need to win games. I’m not a finished product, nor are any of us.
We’re all working on getting better at what we do, and the same goes for the players.”
It’s a message that resonates in Tempe - a blend of humility and hunger. And now, with a contract extension on the table and a high-stakes schedule ahead, Bloomquist has a clear runway to keep pushing this program forward.
The pieces are in place. The incentives are there. Now it’s about execution - and Bloomquist seems ready for the challenge.