Liberty University and men’s basketball head coach Ritchie McKay have agreed on a new contract extension that goes through the 2031-32 season.

McKay’s extension comes on the heels of a strong 2025-26 season for the Flames. McKay and the Flames posted a 26-8 overall record and 17-3 CUSA mark, winning the CUSA outright regular season title for a second straight year. Liberty won the league by four games and started 15-0 in conference play. McKay guided the Flames to 17 straight wins, a new program record, from Dec. 16-Feb. 19.

McKay was named the 2025-26 CUSA Gene Bartow Co-Coach of the Year, his fourth career conference coach of the year honor. He was also one of 20 finalists for the 2025-26 Jim Phelan Award, presented annually to the top head coach in Division I college basketball.

Additionally, McKay was a finalist for the 2025-26 Hugh Durham Award (top mid-major head coach in college basketball) and 2025-26 Ben Jobe Award (top minority head coach in Division I college basketball).

McKay is the winningest coach in Liberty men’s basketball program history with 298 victories in 13 seasons in Lynchburg. McKay and the Flames have posted nine 20-win seasons over the last 10 years, including five seasons with 25 or more wins and a school-record 30 wins (2019-20).

Over the last eight seasons, Liberty has won four conference tournament titles and seven regular season and/or division crowns. The Flames’ 11 titles in that span are tied for the most nationally. McKay and the Flames have recorded 203 victories in those eight years, tied for sixth most nationally. Liberty’s .755 winning percentage (203-66 record) is the fourth-best mark among all teams in Division I in the last eight years.

McKay has led Liberty into postseason play nine times, including four NCAA Tournament berths, two NIT appearances and three CIT nods.

https://libertyflames.com/news/2026/4/17/mens-basketball-mckay-signs-contract-extension-through-2032