Chip Hale leaves Detroit Tigers to coach Arizona Wildcats

Detroit Tigers third base coach Chip Hale is completing a special homecoming. 

The Arizona Wildcats announced Monday that the former Arizona player will become their next baseball head coach. Hale holds university records with 337 hits, 162 walks, 507 total bases, 978 at-bats, and 255 games played and was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He's set to receive a five-year contract and to be officially introduced during a Wednesday press conference. 

"I am very honored and excited to be the new head baseball coach at the University of Arizona," Hale said in a prepared statement. "We 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!"

Hale managed the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 and 2016 and compiled a 148-176 record. He was a bench coach for the Washington Nationals from 2018-20 before accepting the Detroit job.