MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In his third year as WVU’s director of athletics, Wren Baker has agreed to a second contract extension. In an agreement offered by former WVU president E. Gordon Gee and signed by Baker on June 5, Baker had two additional years added to his contract which will run through December 31, 2032.
Gee completed the contract by stating, “I extend and amend your appointment with pleasure for the continued benefit of West Virginia University”.
Wren Baker 2nd Amendment to Employment Agreement
New WVU president Michael T. Benson announced Baker’s contract extension 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. I have been on a few calls already with that group. He is very well-respected.
“You look at the coaches he just extended a few days ago and the hire of Rich Rod has gotten people very animated and very excited, and Coach Hodge. I am very impressed with the operation and how well he is doing in terms of revenue generation and forward thinking about where we want to take the University.”
Baker will receive annual raises of $100,000 for each year of the contract, increasing his salary from $1.3 million in 2025 to $2 million in 2032. Baker will also receive annual retention bonuses of $200,000 if he remains athletic director on July 1 of each year through 2029. The retention bonus increases to $500,000 in 2030.
The native of Valliant, Oklahoma was named WVU’s vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics on Nov. 30, 2022. In his 32 months leading the department, Baker has made head coaching hires for WVU’s men’s basketball program (Darian Devries and Ross Hodge, plus installing Josh Eilert as interim head coach), football (Rich Rodriguez), women’s basketball (Mark Kellogg), baseball (Steve Sabins) and volleyball (Jen Greeny).
Baker is WVU’s 13th athletic director and he came to Morgantown after leading the University of North Texas athletic department. His initial employment agreement at WVU was completed on May 31, 2023. Baker signed his first contract extension in May of 2024.