Following Thursday’s approval by the Board of Trustees of compensation included in a two-year contract extension signed in November, the University of Arkansas announced that men’s basketball head coach Mike Anderson has an employment agreement through March 2022.
Anderson signed the new agreement on November 22, 2017. Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz signed the agreement on November 30, 2017 and the signature approval process was completed when it was signed by UA System President Donald R. Bobbitt on December 1, 2017. The first regularly scheduled Board of Trustee session following the contract signatures occurred this week and provided the opportunity to review and approve compensation and publicly announce.
Anderson is in his third contract with the university after being hired by the University of Arkansas in March 2011 and signing an extension in 2015 that extended him through the 2020 season.
Now in his seventh season at the helm of the Razorback program, Anderson owns two of the top-seven winningest seasons in program history during the last three years. He has guided Arkansas to the NCAA Tournament and won an opening-round game in two of the last three years, while also securing a spot in the SEC Tournament championship twice in three seasons.
“I am appreciative of this meaningful expression of support for the continued direction of the Razorback men’s basketball program,” said Anderson. “Our entire staff and our student-athletes are committed to competing and winning in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. We are also making a difference in helping mold young men and pointing them toward their college degree. We have made significant progress, but we still have work left to do. I’m confident, with the passionate support of the Razorback fans, we can reach our goals.”
One of just four current Division I head coaches with 15-plus years of experience and no losing seasons, Anderson has Arkansas primed for another run in 2018, currently sitting at 14-6 overall with a top-25 RPI and top-20 strength of schedule. The Razorbacks have two top-20 wins at home and knocked off an Oklahoma team at the Phil Knight Invitational that is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation.
“We began discussions with Coach Anderson about an extension in April following the NCAA Tournament, including our tightly contested matchup with eventual national champion North Carolina,” Jon Fagg, senior associate athletic director and basketball sport administrator said. “Razorback men’s basketball is on the rise. Our team is among the best in the SEC this season and the upcoming recruiting classes are among the best in program history. We are excited about the future and partnering with Coach Anderson and his staff as we take our program to new heights.”
Anderson has 21 SEC road wins during the last six-plus years, which is seven more road victories than Arkansas had in the previous 10 years before he took over the program. In 2016-17, the Razorbacks tied the program record with six SEC road wins, including 11 road/neutral wins for the first time in 22 seasons.
Anderson has re-established Bud Walton Arena as one of the toughest places to play and brought excitement back to the tradition-rich program. During his time as head coach, the Razorbacks are tied for the fourth-most home wins in the country, posting a record of 105-16 (.867) inside The Basketball Palace of Mid-America.
The outlook on Razorbacks basketball has never been brighter, as Anderson welcomed a top-25 recruiting class to Fayetteville for the 2017-18 season and has a top-20 class signed for next year according to ESPN.
Anderson remains among the top men’s basketball coaches in the Southeastern Conference and nationally with an annual total compensation of $2.55 million. That total includes $2.35 million in compensation from the University and $200,000 under a personal services agreement for outside employment with the Razorback Foundation. Coach Anderson’s compensation is paid with athletic department-generated revenues and private gift support, and will not include any taxpayer dollars, University support, or student fees.
http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/anderson-employment-agreement-extended-two-years-through-2022/
