San Diego State gives Tony Gwynn one year extension

June 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Former San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn waives during a pre game ceremony to honor the members of the 1998 National League Championship team before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Diego State Aztecs have given baseball Hall-of-Famer, and former SDSU alum Tony Gwynn a one-year extension to coach the baseball team. Gwynn has been the head coach for the Aztecs since 2002.

In recent years, Gwynn has undergone several treatments for cheek cancer, caused by his use of chewing tobacco during his playing days with the San Diego Padres. Gwynn has been away from the team since March 25th.

Associate head coach Mark Martinez led the team into the NCAA tournament after winning the Mountain West conference title. The Aztecs went 0-2 in the regional round, losing to Mississippi State and Louisiana-Lafayette. Martinez also received an extension through the 2017 season.

The Aztecs plan on going to a year-to-year basis until they know how extensive the cancer treatments will be. Gwynn has had surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes and tumors in salivary glands in August of 2010. He underwent surgery again in 2012 to remove a malignant tumor from inside his right cheek.

SDSU had seven players selected in the MLB draft this year. That is the most that the program has had selected since 2007. They have also made two consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament.

Gwynn has led the Aztecs to a 321-342 record in his 12 years at the school, with three appearances in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. All of those have come since 2007. They have yet to advance past the regional round however.

The Aztecs are still not sure when the 53-year-old Gwynn will return to the helm, but they want to make sure that he is under contract when he is ready.