FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis has announced a contract extension for baseball head coach Shawn Camp, securing his leadership through the 2030 season.

"Shawn has led our baseball program with a refreshing passion and style that positions George Mason Baseball for sustained success in the Atlantic 10," said Lewis.  "He is deeply committed to the holistic development of our student-athletes and building a culture that Mason Nation can be proud of.  His integrity and competitive vision have elevated the standard of Patriots Baseball, and under his leadership, the future of George Mason Baseball is incredibly bright."

Camp, a Fairfax native and George Mason alum, joined the Patriots as pitching coach before the 2020, was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2022 season and took over the program as the head coach prior to the 2023 campaign.

In his first year as head coach, Camp guided the Patriots to 36 wins, the most by the program since 2009, and the club set new program records for stolen bases and strikeouts in a season.

In 2023, the Patriots won the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship for the second time in program history and earned a berth in the NCAA Winston-Salem Regional.  The Patriots won two games, defeating Northeastern and Maryland, and advanced to the Regional Final for the first time in program history.

"It's an incredible honor to continue leading the baseball program at my alma mater," Camp said.  "George Mason has shaped so much of who I am as a player, a coach, and a person. I'm grateful that I can continue to give back to a place that means so much to me. I want to thank Athletic Director Marvin Lewis for his continued trust and support, and my coaching staff for their outstanding work and dedication to the players and program.  What makes George Mason special isn't just the success on the field, it's the people, the academic excellence, and the commitment to doing things the right way.  Our focus will always be on developing student-athletes who compete with passion, achieve in the classroom, and grow into outstanding men off the field.  My family and I are proud to call this community home.  We're excited for what's ahead and honored to keep representing George Mason University and the baseball program.  There's a lot to look forward to, and I am excited to continue building the program with my staff and our players."

Over the last four years, 12 Patriots have gone on to play professionally with four players drafted, four signing as free agents and four with independent teams.

With this contract extension, George Mason affirms its commitment to the continued growth and success of its baseball program under Camp's leadership. The university community looks forward to building on this momentum and achieving even greater milestones in the coming seasons.

A catcher in high school at James W. Robinson, Camp converted to a pitcher while at Mason and played for the Patriots from 1995 through 1997.  He was selected in the 16th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres and played professionally from 1997-2014 for nine different organizations.  
 
Camp played 18 years of professional baseball and spent 11 seasons in the majors with five clubs, appearing in 541 major league games for the Kansas City Royals, Tamps Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies.  He finished his career with a 29-33 record, 12 saves, and compiled 405 career strikeouts.  Camp led MLB with a career-high 80 appearances for the Cubs during the 2012 season.