'I've got great confidence'

A few weeks ago, when the Jayhawks had won 27 of 30 during an unreal stretch of games, if you would’ve asked just about anybody in college baseball whether Dan Fitzgerald would be the head coach at Kansas next season, you might have received a unanimous no. 

But that would’ve been news to Fitzgerald and KU AD Travis Goff. 

The better the Jayhawks played — series to series of late and season to season in the big picture — the louder the outside noise got about Fitzgerald likely being plucked by a bigger program with more money, more tradition and better facilities. 

But Fitzgerald has never been one to worry about what people are saying or projecting. Not about his team, not about any given season or series and certainly not him personally. 

Fast-forward to this week, with a Big 12 title trophy tucked under each arm, when Fitzgerald asked about his future at KU. 

“If you guys remember, I signed a 6-year extension last year and I think triggered an additional year (by winning the Big 12 this year, as outlined in his contract),” he began. “When someone told me that I triggered an additional year, I mean, it's total joy. We love every second of being here, and (are) so thankful for the extension last year. I wake up daily incredibly grateful for literally everything in my life, including the extension last year and knowing where we’re gonna be.”

History is full of coaches saying they’re happy where they are and aren’t looking to go anywhere else. So, you always have to take comments like Fitzgerald’s from Monday for what they were — absolutely true in the moment. 

Could that change with time or offers and intrigue from other programs? Perhaps. But Goff isn’t betting on it. Instead, he’s betting on and planning to invest in Fitzgerald and what he’s building. 

On Monday, Goff said the momentum around Kansas baseball has never been greater. Multiple 6-figure gifts have been pledged to the program and KU's athletic department hasn't been shy about sharing its desire to sustain this recent success.

Goff said the contract extension Fitzgerald signed last year after leading Kansas back to the NCAA Tournament wasn’t offered as some sort of procedural move to check a box. Instead, it was to set the tone for the future of the program and show Fitzgerald, his team and his coaching staff that Kansas is committed to investing in baseball. 

“My hope is it won’t be the last one with Dan Fitzgerald at the helm,” Goff said this week of a contract with KU’s current baseball coach. “We’ll continue to be proactive and jump out in front. Not because of some narrative or the landscape, but because that’s what is earned.” 

Goff continued: “I’ve got great confidence and, ultimately when you talk about coach retention, they’re not all created equally because you don’t always get the information you need on this side. But Dan Fitzgerald’s not gonna hold anything back on his communication to me about being here for the long haul and what this incredibly increased support and investment look like. … It starts with the relationship, human to human, man to man, and the connection we have goes back before we even hired him here at KU. And it’s the part about him and his family having an awareness and a gratitude for what this place is providing them and affording them and they deserve far more than we’ve been able to give them.” 

Fitzgerald emphasized that the relationship he has with his AD is rock solid and incredibly active. 

“Travis and I talk literally daily and text each other about 10 times a day,” he said. “So, we are as engaged as an AD and head baseball coach can be. … There is no possible way that I could be more excited about the future of Kansas baseball.”

More of our coverage of the 2026 Kansas baseball team...

• Jayhawks win outright Big 12 title - Putting KU's first ever Big 12 crown in the proper context and perspective

• Stop us if you've heard this one... - Jayhawks validate regular season title by winning school's second ever Big 12 tourney trophy

• Jayhawks draw No. 15 national seed for this weekend's regional at KU - Monday was both the first day back to work and a day to celebrate as Kansas baseball made history by joining the ranks of the NCAA regional hosts

• The man behind the mask - What catcher Augie Mungarrieta has meant to KU

• From France to Friday nights - The story of KU pitcher Mathis Nayral

• Coming out of his shell - This season has been so much fun even normally-reserved KU ace Dom Voegele has allowed his emotions to show

• All he does is win - KU shortstop Tyson LeBlanc has done nothing but win in the game of baseball since he started playing and he hasn't slowed down in Lawrence

• Ready and willing - How KU's starting infield set the tone for this team's incredible work ethic

• Red-hot Jayhawks working magic recipe for another memorable run - Juco recruiting, hard work, being incredible teammates, it's all part of the magic that KU coach Dan Fitzgerald has brought to Lawrence

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