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HoopDirt.com first reported a contract extension for Sacramento State head coach Brian Katz earlier this morning. The university has now made it official – here’s the release:
Fresh off a record breaking season for the men’s basketball program, head coach Brian Katz received a contract extension from the University today that will keep him at Sacramento State through at least the 2019-20 season.
“We are excited to commit to Coach Katz and keep him in the Hornet family for years to come,” Sacramento State Athletics Director Bill Macriss said. “Since his arrival, he has taken a very holistic approach at growing the program. The continued progress the fans have seen on the court is just part of the overall betterment of the program since his arrival, including improvements in graduation rates, grade point average, APR and fundraising.
“The man is a workaholic who is passionate about Hornet basketball. We wanted to commit to him the same way he has committed to Sacramento State so we can keep men’s basketball headed in the great direction it’s moving under his leadership.”
The five-year commitment from the University comes after a 2014-15 season in which the program went 21-12 overall and 13-5 in the Big Sky Conference while securing its first postseason appearance in the Div. I era (1991-pres.), and first postseason win in 53 years. The overall record marked the first time in the Div. I era that Sacramento State finished above the .500 mark, the 21 victories tied for second most in program history (1948-pres.), and the 13 conference wins were the most in school history.
Academically, of the 24 Hornets that have expired their eligibility under Coach Katz, 22 have graduated. The program has excelled in the classroom as the team’s 3.15 grade point average during the 2014 fall semester was the highest cumulative gpa in school history for the men’s basketball program. The team currently has an overall gpa of 3.04.
“It feels great to be appreciated,” Katz said. “The administration on every level of this University has always supported me and I am very thankful. Obviously this doesn’t happen without great kids and a great staff, and it’s exciting to be a part of an ever-growing and thriving University for another five years.”
Since Katz took over the men’s basketball program prior the 2008-09 season, the team has improved its conference record every year of his tenure. Last year’s CollegeInsider.com National Mid-Major Coach of the Year, District 6 Coach of the Year and Big Sky Conference co-Coach of the Year, Katz has overseen a program that set seven school records last year, sold out the final six games of the 2014-15 season, and has posted a 34-9 record at home over the last three years.
http://hornetsports.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20150903f95oat
Photo Courtesy Sacramento State Athletics
