Former Arizona Wildcat standout Chip Hale has been named the baseball coach at his alma mater, the UA announced Monday.
Hale, 56, has served as the Detroit Tigersβ third-base coach this season. He managed the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 and β16 and also has extensive minor-league managerial experience, including with the Tucson Sidewinders. He never has coached in college.
Hale will receive a five-year contract and will be officially introduced Wednesday.
βI am thrilled and excited to have Chip lead our iconic baseball program,β UA athletic director Dave Heeke said in a news release. βChip has long been a member of the Wildcat Family as a former student-athlete and has always remained close to our university and to our Tucson community. He has played and coached at the highest levels of the game and brings an unbridled passion and enthusiasm to his work.
"I have no doubt that Chip embraces the 'Wildcat Way' mission we share at Arizona Athletics, and that he will mentor and develop future generations of Wildcat champions on the diamond, in the classroom and in the community.β
The finalists were believed to be Hale and Oregon coach Mark Wasikowksi, who reportedly agreed to a contract extension Monday to remain in Eugene.
Detroit Tigers' Willi Castro is congratulated by third base coach Chip Hale after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, June 16, 2021.Β
Hale played for the Wildcats under Jerry Kindall from 1984-87 and is the programβs all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, total bases and walks drawn. The 1986 Cats won the College World Series championship.
βI am very honored and excited to be the new head baseball coach at the University of Arizona,β Hale said. βWe will work tirelessly to build on the success that has been established here and continue to coach and develop our Wildcats to be champions on the field and in the classroom. With the help and support of the University of Arizona and the Wildcat Family, we plan on making many trips to Omaha!β
Originally from Northern California, Hale was a 17th-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1987. He played seven seasons in the big leagues, finishing his playing career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997.
Hale was named the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in 2006 after leading the Sidewinders to a 91-52 record. He posted a 148-176 record in two seasons as manager of the Diamondbacks.
Hale succeeds Jay Johnson, who left Arizona after six seasons and two CWS appearances to become the coach at LSU.
Weβll have more on this developing story later today.
Photos: UA baseball star Chip Hale through the years
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University of Arizona's Chip Hale gets congratulated by coach Jerry Kindall as Hale rounds third base during the NCAA Championship against Florida State in June, 1986.
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University of Arizona head coach, Jerry Kindall, left, celebrates with Chip Hale after Arizona beat Florida State, 10-2, on June 9, 1986 to win the NCAA College World Series in Omaha.
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Arizona baseball head coach Jerry Kindall with players Todd Trafton, left, and Chip Hale, right, holding the NCAA championship trophy after beating Florida State on June 9, 1986.
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University of Arizona's Chip Hale tosses his batting helmet during a game against Arizona State in May, 1986.
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The Fearsome Foursome of Arizona baseball in 1985: Tommy Hinzo, left, Chuck Johnson, Chip Hale and catcher David Taylor (squatting).
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Chip Hale of the University of Arizona dives for a grounder hit by a Florida State batter during the NCAA Baseball Championships in June, 1986.
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Arizona third baseman Chip Hale holds a Florida State runner at second base during the NCAA Championship in June, 1986.
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Chip Hale of the University of Arizona crosses homeplate during the NCAA Championship game against Florida State in June, 1986.
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University of Arizona baseball player Chip Hale in 1987.
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Chip Hale, left, talks to Craig Ansman before a 2004 Sidewinders game.
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Manager Chip Hale, left, yells as Tucson Sidewinder's Alberto Callaspo slides in to third base in a game against Las Vegas at TEP in 2006.
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Sidewinders Manager Chip Hale looks at an old baseball photo with Jack Boag during a Meet-the-Sidewinders event at the Canoa Social Center in Green Valley in 2004.Β
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Chip Hale teaches a group of youths about baseball on a Sunday afternoon at Tucson Electric Park in 2007. The Pepsi MLB Pitch Hit and Run program offers youths, ages 7-14, instruction from the pros on baseball fundamentals.
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Former University of Arizona and MLB player Chip Hale coaches his team, the Missoula Osprey, on a Tuesday morning while at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training facility.
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Diamondbacks minor-league coach/instructor Chip Hale hits ground balls to pitchers during practice at the Kino Sports Complex in 2003.
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Diamondbacks minor-league coach/instructor Chip Hale hits ground balls to pitchers during practice at the Kino Sports Complex in 2003.
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Max Scherzer, front, sprints for home at the urging of third base coach Chip Hale, rear, against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 26, 2009, in Phoenix. Scherzer scored on a single by Gerardo Parra.
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Sidewinders manager Chip Hale coaches his team from the dugout on April 6, 2004 at Tucson Electric Park.
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Former Arizona baseball pitcher Daniel Schlereth, left, talks with fellow Wildcat and then-Diamondbacks third base coach Chip Hale on the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers at the Diamondbacks' minor-league complex in 2009.
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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds (27) gets congratulated by third base coach Chip Hale after his homer in the bottom of the 6th inning to put the Diamondbacks up 5-0 against the Giants at Chase Field on Sept. 18, 2007.
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Tucson Sidewinders manager Chip Hale blows a bubble while coaching third base against the Portland Beavers at Tucson Electric Park in 2005.
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Sidewinders manager Chip Hale introduces left-handed pitcher Chris Cervantes modeling the team's 2004 uniforms in 2004.
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Some of Arizona's 1986 NCAA Championship team get together before taking the field during the Alumni Game at Sancett Field. The '86 team won the College World Series, one of the three Arizona teams to do so. Sidewinder Manager Chip Hale is second from left.Β
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Chip Hale signs an Arizona jersey for Phoebe Chalk, who works for the UA, before the alumni game in 2006.
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In this April 27, 2011, file photo, then-New York Mets third base coach Chip Hale (51) restrains Mets' Jose Reyes (7) as he argues a call by third base umpire Marvin Hudson, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington.
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Sidewinder manager Chip Hale led his team to win the Pacific Coast League Championship in 2006. The former Arizona baseball player was part of columnist Greg Hansen's top 100 stories in 2006.
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) in the first inning during a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale talks with umpire Gary Cederstrom as he argues a call and requests a replay during the eighth inning of an opening day baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Monday, April 6, 2015, in Phoenix. The Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 5-4. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale watches from the dugout during the first inning of a MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, April 11, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, front left, confers with home plate umpire Adrian Johnson while turning in the lineup card before facing the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale looks on against the Colorado Rockies in the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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New Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team manager Chip Hale smiles as he talks about managing the club during a news conference Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, in Phoenix. The former Diamondbacks third base coach was hired Monday to replace fired Kirk Gibson as the Diamondbacks manager. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team manager Chip Hale talks about managing the club during a news conference Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, in Phoenix. The former Diamondbacks third base coach was hired Monday to replace fired Kirk Gibson as the Diamondbacks manager. The 49-year-old managed in Arizona's minor league system for six seasons and was with the Diamondbacks from 2007-09 in the first of eight consecutive seasons as a big league third base coach. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team manager Chip Hale, left, talks about managing the new club during a news conference as chief baseball officer of the Diamondbacks Tony LaRussa, right, listens Monday, Oct. 13, 2014, in Phoenix. The former Diamondbacks third base coach was hired Monday to replace fired Kirk Gibson as the Diamondbacks manager. The 49-year-old managed in Arizona's minor league system for six seasons and was with the Diamondbacks from 2007-09 in the first of eight consecutive seasons as a big league third base coach. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Chip Hale, the new manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, left, is presented by chief baseball officer of the team, Tony LaRussa, in a press conference on Monday, Oct. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale speaks to students at Castlehill Country Day School on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. Hale, who was announced on Monday as the new manager, spoke to students on achieving their goals. Hale played for the Arizona Wildcats during the 1986 championship season. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale speaks to students at Castlehill Country Day School on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. Hale, who was announced on Monday as the new manager, spoke to students on achieving their goals. Hale played for the Arizona Wildcats during the 1986 championship season. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Walter Ibarra (74) slaps hands with Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) and assistant hitting coach Mark Grace after scoring a run during the sixth inning of the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies baseball Spring Training opening game on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz. Arizona won 6-2. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Oliver Perez, right, hands the ball to manager Chip Hale during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Monday, April 27, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta (6) and Chip Hale celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies 12-5 during a baseball game, Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Chip Hale gives out a fist pump to a player prior to a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday, April 24, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Chip Hale (3) takes the baseball from pitcher Jeremy Hellickson after pulling him from a baseball game during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sunday, April 26, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Chip Hale, right, talks with umpire Tony Randazzo, left, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday, April 24, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale is introduced prior to an opening day baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Monday, April 6, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) gives a fist bump to one of his players during the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies baseball Spring Training opening game on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz. Arizona won 6-2. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale walks off the field after removing a pitcher against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, June 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
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Six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken-Roulen and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale talk before a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, June 7, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Jarrod Saltalamacchia (8) celebrates his home run against the New York Mets with manager Chip Hale, right, during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 4, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, left, talks with New York Mets manager Terry Collins, right, prior to a baseball game Thursday, June 4, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock (11) celebrates his run scored against the New York Mets with manager Chip Hale, right, and David Peralta, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 5, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, left, meets with umpires, including Mike Winters, right, prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday, June 29, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale watches as his team falls behind to the Colorado Rockies in the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Denver. Colorado won 6-4. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale looks on against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) looks on against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 24, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale (3) looks on against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 24, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, left, gets a pat on the back from manager Chip Hale after the fifth inning where he gave up a three run home run to Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier to make nine runs given up total so far in a baseball game, Monday, June 8, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, right, celebrates with Arizona's Yasmany Tomas (24) after Tomas hit a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a baseball game, Sunday, July 5, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, July 3, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, July 5, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray walks off the mound after handing the ball over to manager Chip Hale (3) during the eighth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. The Diamondbacks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, center, pulls Diamondbacks starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (12) as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo (7) looks away in a baseball game in New York, Sunday, July 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Welington Castillo, left, is assisted by manager Chip Hale, right, after he was hit by a pitch from Seattle Mariners' Carson Smith during a baseball game on Monday, July 27, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale before a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Home plate umpire Brian O'Nora explains the rules to Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, left, and Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell (30) prior to a baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
