EUGENE — Mark Wasikowski is returning to Oregon.

The Purdue baseball coach and former UO assistant has been hired to take over as the new head coach for the Ducks, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed.

Wasikowski served as an assistant at Oregon from 2011-16 before becoming the head coach at Purdue, where he went 87-82 in three seasons, including an NCAA Regional appearance in 2018.

“We are excited to add a high-energy and experienced coach in Mark to lead our baseball program,” Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement. “He has an outstanding work ethic and a track record as an excellent recruiter, and we expect to compete for championships under his leadership. Mark has a wide breadth of experience in both the Pac-12 and beyond, and we are confident that the success on the horizon as well as his high level of engagement will provide a first-class experience for our baseball student-athletes.”

The Boilermakers went from 10-44 and 2-22 in Big Ten play in 2016 season to 29-27 and 12-12 in league play in Wasikowski’s first year and 38-21 and 17-6 in the Big Ten in 2018, which earned him consideration for coach of the year awards. The 19-win jump in his first season is the greatest turnaround in Purdue baseball history.

Kendall Rogers first reported the hire of Wasikowski, who played and worked under three-time national Coach of the Year Andy Lopez for 18 years while at Florida (1998-2001) and Arizona (2001-11) before joining George Horton’s staff at Oregon in the summer of 2011.

“I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity from Rob Mullens, Eric Roedl and the University of Oregon administration,” Wasikowski said in a statement. “Roughly 12 years ago, a dream and a vision from Pat Kilkenny, Joe Giansante, and Hall of Fame coach George Horton started the Oregon baseball program. The program literally started from scratch and is now in a solid position moving forward. We will not shy away from the goal of playing for and winning a National Championship, as challenging as that will be. My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity in Eugene, and I can’t wait to get to work. Go Ducks!”

Wasikowski was an assistant coach on 11 NCAA Regional teams in 13 seasons (2003-15), including four in five years while at Oregon.

The Ducks were one of only three teams nationally to win 40-plus games every year from 2012 to 2014 while he was on staff and 23 Oregon players were selected in the MLB Draft in during his five seasons in Eugene.