After finishing the regular season with a respectable record of 15-14, Rutgers men's basketball coach Kevin Bannon has been given a contract extension through the 2005-2006 season, as it was announced yesterday by Director of Athletics Robert E. Mulcahy. Bannon's original contract, signed when he was named Rutgers' head coach in 1997, would have expired at the end of the 2002-2003 season.
"Kevin took over a very tough situation here, inheriting a program that had endured five straight losing seasons. I appreciate how difficult the job was when Kevin arrived in 1997. Almost immediately, under Kevin's direction, the program began to show major signs of progress," said Mulcahy.
Following a 14-15 season in 1997-98, highlighted by a trip to the Big East tournament semifinals, last year's Scarlet Knights improved to 19-13 and earned a berth in the NIT. This year's team, which includes the youngest starting five in the Big East, begins play in the Big East tournament tomorrow.
"After an exciting first year, last season's team broke through with a 19-win season, and this year we showed great promise, too," Mulcahy said. "Kevin has recruited well, landing major New Jersey prospects in each of the last three recruiting classes. He has recruited young men of high character, and I applaud the work his players have accomplished in the classroom. I believe in stability, I believe in continuity, and I believe in Kevin Bannon."
At age 42, Bannon is the youngest active Division I coach in the nation, with 300 career wins, and is fourth among active Big East coaches in career wins. In his three seasons at Rutgers, he has compiled a 48-42 record.
"As I said the day I was hired, for a lifelong New Jersey resident to be head coach at Rutgers University is the ultimate," said Bannon. "I am grateful to the Rutgers administration and particularly Bob Mulcahy for their tremendous support as we build a program that will be highly successful, year in and year out. Now that we've demonstrated success through the formative stages of the rebuilding process, this gives us the stability that we need to bring this program to new levels."
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