FULLERTON, Calif. – Second-year Cal State Fullerton head baseball coach Rick Vanderhook signed a five-year contract extension through the 2018 season, it was announced by Athletic Director Jim Donovan on Monday.

"In his short time as our head coach, Rick has done a remarkable job ensuring the continued success of our baseball program," Donovan said. "In 25 years at Cal State Fullerton as a player and coach, there is no better individual that can guide our baseball program as we remain persistent in our goal to compete for Big West Conference and national championships."

Currently in the middle of his second year at the helm of the Fullerton baseball program, Vanderhook has led the Titans to a No. 4 national ranking and 31-5 record.

"I am privileged and grateful to continue as the head coach at Cal State Fullerton," Vanderhook said. "The coaching staff and our student-athletes work each and every day to continue the tradition of hard-nosed Titan baseball. We believe that this effort will result in the prolonged success of our program that our students, campus, community and fans deserve and have come to expect."

During the 2012 campaign, Vanderhook didn't miss a beat, taking the Titans to the Big West Conference championship, a top-20 national ranking for the majority of the season, and the Titans' 21st consecutive NCAA appearance. His rookie year also resulted in his first conference coach of the year award.

"I would also like to thank Vice President Eanes, and President Garcia for their continued support as we work toward maintaining a championship program," Vanderhook said. "I am honored to be an extension of this baseball program, campus, and community."

Vanderhook has amassed a 67-26 (.720) record during his short time as the Titan skipper after ending 2012 with a record of 36-21.

On June 24, 2011, Vanderhook was announced as the program's fifth Division I head coach. He is currently in his 23rd season with the Titan baseball program after surpassing Augie Garrido as the longest-serving baseball coach in school history.

Prior to being named the head coach at Cal State Fullerton, in 24 seasons as a Division I assistant coach (21 at Fullerton), Vanderhook accumulated a total of 12 conference championships, 20 postseason appearances, eight Super Regionals appearances, 11 trips to the College World Series and two national championships.

Vanderhook spent the better part of a quarter century under head coaches Garrido, Larry Cochell and George Horton.

He began his coaching career as an assistant to Garrido from 1985-87, serving as the bullpen coach for the first two years before stepping into the third base coaching box and working with the hitters and defense in 1987. He remained on staff in 1988 under Cochell but then spent two seasons (1989-1990) as an assistant to former Fullerton assistant coach Bill Kernen at Cal State Northridge. Vanderhook returned to Cal State Fullerton with Garrido in 1991 and remained through the 2007 season.

Vanderhook then spent three seasons (2009-11) as an assistant coach to John Savage at UCLA, where he helped lead the Bruins to a Pac-10 conference title, a pair of postseason appearances and a runner-up finish at the 2010 College World Series.

A product of the prominent Cerritos College program where he played for Horton, Vanderhook originally came to the Titans in 1983 when he took a redshirt season. He was a member of the Titans' 1984 national championship team, earning his first of three Cal State Fullerton championship rings.