Arkansas State Extends Baseball Coach Mike Silva Through 2031
Arkansas State University announced Wednesday that head baseball coach Mike Silva has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the Red Wolves program through June 30, 2031.
The extension comes after a remarkable first season in 2025, during which Silva guided the Red Wolves to their highest win total (26) since 2019 and their first Sun Belt Conference Tournament appearance since 2021.
“Our baseball team experienced tremendous growth last year under Coach Silva’s leadership,” said Chris Pezman, A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. “His positive impact on all areas of our program has quickly changed the trajectory of A-State baseball. This extension allows us to establish some important continuity and build on the excitement surrounding our baseball program.”
Picked to finish last in the Sun Belt’s 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll, Arkansas State defied expectations by finishing eighth and earning a spot in the conference tournament. The team doubled its conference win total from the previous year with 14 Sun Belt victories and recorded its best conference winning percentage since 2014.
Silva, who became Arkansas State’s sixth head baseball coach in June 2024, posted the best first-year coaching record in program history. His previous contract was set to expire in 2030.
"I am more excited than ever about the future of our program and the opportunity to be the head baseball coach at A-State,” Silva said. “I want to thank Chris, Dr. Todd Shields, Dr. Brendan Kelly and the Board of Trustees for their confidence, as well as our community and fans for the fantastic support they provide.”
Under Silva’s direction, A-State achieved several major milestones in 2025:
Most conference series wins (5) since 2017
First road-series win over Louisiana in 13 years
Most home wins (18) in 11 years
First victories over multiple nationally ranked opponents since 2019, including wins over national runner-up Coastal Carolina and then-No. 19 Troy
NCAA RPI improvement from No. 218 to No. 144
The Red Wolves also ranked among the Sun Belt's top three in numerous pitching and defensive categories, including ERA (4.44), shutouts (4), and WHIP (1.36). The program showed measurable improvements in batting average, slugging percentage, fielding percentage, and opponent batting average.
A-State Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields praised Silva's impact: “Their success, along with the strong commitment of many others associated with the program, has generated a lot of momentum as we look forward to a bright future for A-State baseball with Mike serving as our head coach.”
ASU System President Dr. Brendan Kelly added, “Coach Silva’s leadership, character and competitive spirit reflect the values we emphasize at Arkansas State. He has done an outstanding job both on the field and in the community.”
With the new agreement in place, Arkansas State is poised to continue building on the foundation Silva established in 2025 as the Red Wolves aim to become a consistent contender in one of the nation’s top baseball conferences.