Xavier University Director of Athletics Greg Christopher announced today that the University has entered into a new agreement with men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack, which includes a two-year extension through the 2019-20 season.
Mack, 44, has led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament in four of his first five seasons at the helm, including the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2010 and 2012. The 1992 Xavier graduate, who is entering his sixth year as the XU head coach, holds a 111-57 overall mark and stands fourth on Xavier’s all-time wins list.
"It’s clear that our men’s basketball program is pointed in the right direction," said Christopher. "Xavier’s three decades of sustained success is the result of intentional planning and efforts from many people here at Xavier. Maintaining that success starts with the right leadership and Chris is that person. Whether it’s coaching, recruiting or how he runs and represents the program, Chris does a terrific job and is the perfect fit for Xavier. Chris and our coaches share the vision we all have to win a BIG EAST Championship and reach the Final Four. This new agreement came from our year-end conversations and touches the entire program. In the end, Xavier is committed to and expects high-level success in men’s basketball. We will always make sure our program is built in a manner to compete for championships."
"We have lofty goals for our basketball program, said Mack. "Xavier is a special place and the support from the entire Xavier Community is overwhelming. Xavier and the City of Cincinnati are home to me. As both an alum and the head coach, I am excited about the challenges ahead. Between our returning players and the new recruiting class, the coming years at Xavier will be special. We’re ready to get started right now."
Xavier finished 21-13 overall this past season and 10-8 in its first season in the BIG EAST Conference, which tied for third place, and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Mack is very familiar with postseason tournament play. In fact, 2014 marked the 14th NCAA Tournament for Mack, including two as a player and 12 on the coaching staffs at Xavier and Wake Forest.
Mack led Xavier to Atlantic 10 Conference Regular Season Championships in 2010 and 2011. XU has finished in the top 25 of the Associated Press and/or USA Today/ESPN Poll three times in his first five seasons in charge.
Mack was selected as the 2010-11 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year and the 2009-10 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year. In addition, Mack was the recipient of the 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, which is sponsored by CollegeInsider.com. The Skip Prosser Award was established in 2008 to honor those who not only achieve success on the basketball court but who display moral integrity off of it as well.
Mack is the 17th head coach in program history and the fifth Xavier alumnus. Prior to being named Xavier’s head coach on April 15, 2009, Mack spent five seasons as an assistant on Sean Miller’s Xavier staff. He was on the staff of the late Skip Prosser both at Xavier and at Wake Forest. Mack was XU’s Director of Basketball Operations from 1999-2001 under Prosser and spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Wake Forest under Prosser from 2001-04. He returned to Xavier from 2004-09 as an assistant coach under Miller. During those 10 years on the Prosser and Miller staffs at Xavier and Wake, Mack coached on nine teams that made postseason play, including eight teams that made the NCAA Tournament field.
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