WVU, Wren Baker agree to contract extension through 2032
West Virginia Director of Athletics Wren Baker has agreed to a second contract extension, keeping him in Morgantown through the end of 2032.
Originally offered by former WVU president E. Gordon Gee and signed by Baker on June 5, the extension adds two years to his current deal. New university president Michael T. Benson publicly announced the agreement Thursday morning on MetroNews Talkline.
“He has told me he is very happy here and his wife and daughters are very happy here,” Benson said. “We have extended his contract. He is doing an unbelievable job. He is the new chair of the athletic directors within the Big 12.”
Benson also pointed to the recent hires and extensions across the athletic department, including football coach Rich Rodriguez and men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge, as examples of Baker’s success.
As part of the new deal, Baker will receive a $100,000 salary increase each year, starting at $1.3 million in 2025 and reaching $2 million by 2032.
The deal also includes retention incentives including $200,000 if Baker is employed in his position July 1 each of the years of the extension outside the years 2030 and 2032 where that total jumps to $500,000.
That information was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act Request.
Baker was hired in late 2022 and has led WVU’s athletic department for just over two and a half years. In that time, he’s overseen a significant wave of coaching changes, including hires in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and volleyball.
This marks Baker’s second contract extension in less than two years.
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