ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University and Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield have announced that Head Baseball Coach Jordon Banfield has signed a five-year extension on his current contract that would run through the 2027 season.

"I am extremely happy that Jordon will continue to lead the OU baseball program for at least five more years.  In just two years, Jordon's leadership has resulted in remarkable successes for the baseball program on and off the field, from setting the school record for victories in a season to the baseball program earning the men's sports Community Service Team Award at this year's Black and Gold Awards.  Jordon has positioned the program for even greater success in the coming years and I look forward to seeing what the team accomplishes," said Waterfield.

Banfield and the Golden Grizzlies are coming off one of the best years in program history with 29 regular season wins and an 18-11 Horizon League mark that landed a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Oakland tallied 48 home runs, 81 doubles, and 306 RBI in the 2022 campaign. Banfield has also led Oakland to power five victories over Michigan and Pittsburgh in the past year.

"First, I must thank Steve Waterfield for making a commitment to keep myself and my staff at Oakland for the long haul. I'm excited about what we're building here and happy for our players that their work and character were validated on the field last season," said Banfield, "I'm deeply committed to this university and continuing to lead the program places it hasn't been before. Go Golden Grizzlies."

Oakland has one of the highest team grade point averages on campus and in the collegiate baseball space, earning a 2021-22 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award as well as five 2022 #HLBASE All-League honors. Six Golden Grizzlies were on the #HLBASE All-Academic list, the most of any other Horizon League team and tying that mark for the first time since 2018. OU Baseball also amassed among the highest community service hours of Oakland athletic programs.

In Banfield's first season at the helm, five sluggers were selected on the #HLBASE All-League ballot as well as a solo All-Academic pick. 

Prior to Oakland, Banfield was an Associate Head Coach at Akron and spent two seasons at the University of Texas-Rio Grande.