Fairfield University today announced a contract extension for Head Men’s Basketball Coach Sydney Johnson through the 2020-21 season. Johnson most recently led Fairfield to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Game.
“Our excitement over the progress made this past season, combined with the momentum of the Men’s Basketball program moving-forward, creates the ideal time to announce this contract extension for Coach Johnson. He believes not only in Fairfield, but in the values we espouse institutionally and athletically for the holistic development of our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann. “Coach Johnson and I share the same high expectations for the future of Fairfield Basketball; to compete for conference championships and do so in a way that is consistent with our commitment to excellence and integrity in all facets of our program. I look forward to working with him to achieve our common goals.”
Fairfield’s run to the 2018 MAAC Championship saw the Stags earn three MAAC Tournament victories to advance to Monday night, capping a seven-game winning streak that marked the longest during Johnson’s tenure. The Stags also won seven of their last nine regular season games to surge into Albany as one of the MAAC’s hottest teams.
“Sydney embraces Fairfield’s core values through his commitment to the formation of the student-athlete, his role as an ambassador to the broader community and his drive for success, all of which embody our collective pursuit of modern excellence,” said Mark R. Nemec, PhD, president of Fairfield University. “We are excited by the program’s trajectory and are looking forward to its continued rise.”
In Johnson’s time at Fairfield, he has seen seven of his student-athletes join the professional ranks with all-time leading scorer Tyler Nelson ’18 currently poised to add his name to that ledger following a host of recent NBA workouts. Additionally, Johnson stands as one of only four coaches who have amassed 100 or more wins at Fairfield and is tied for the most winning seasons in school history.
“I am intensely focused on continuing to lead our program towards excellence in the classroom and on the basketball court while embodying our Jesuit values,” said Coach Johnson. “I couldn’t be more grateful to have the full support of our president Mark Nemec, our athletic director Paul Schlickmann and our board of trustees every step of the way.”
