Newly hired UW head baseball coach Lindsay Meggs spent “72 hours of absolute mayhem” in deliberation on whether or not to work for Washington.

Yet for Meggs, who on Sunday decided to leave his post at Indiana State for the UW, the hectic weekend he spent mulling over Washington’s offer was the stuff of dreams.

Meggs was at a youth baseball camp in Hawaii when he received a call from a UW administrator with the offer. On a late-night flight back home to Indiana, Meggs and wife Teresa weighed the pros and cons of accepting the UW job.

By the end of the flight, they were convinced that there weren’t any downsides at all.

“It’s one of the greatest universities in the country in arguably the greatest baseball conference in the country,” Meggs said.

Upon arrival Sunday morning, Meggs accepted the job, grabbed the same suitcases he’d used earlier without unpacking, and flew to Seattle. He was formally introduced Monday morning — about 6,600 miles and 72 hours later.

“It’s been a few different time zones, not much sleep, a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement,” Meggs said.

It looks as though the feeling is mutual.

“We found a guy who I think is a treasure,” athletic director Scott Woodward said.

Meggs will replace Ken Knutson, who was fired June 22 after 17 years at the helm of the program. Washington went 584-399-2 under Knutson but hasn’t had a winning conference record since 2004 and finished at 25-30 overall last season.

The UW hasn’t qualified for the NCAA tournament since 2003.

Meggs spent three years at Indiana State, going 77-79 overall. He guided the team to a 33-21 finish last season, was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, and is widely credited with turning the once-downtrodden Sycamores around.

Meggs’ task at Washington will be no different; the fact that he helped garner enough support around the Sycamores’ program to construct a new stadium proves his ability to do it.

“He has to win ballgames and get our fan base excited,” Woodward said, “and I told him I would be a partner with him in doing that.”

Meggs said he’s already spoken to incoming freshmen via teleconference and expects to begin rounding out his coaching staff starting as early as this weekend.

“I can’t tell you how excited and honored I am to be part of the Husky family,” Meggs said.

Reach reporter Maks Goldenshteyn at news@dailyuw.com.