I mentioned the up-in-the-air status of head coach Murray Garvin (http://hoopdirt.com/blog/a5a2d79c/south-carolina-dirt/…). Seems like that has now been cleared up…

South Carolina State University has announced that head men’s basketball coach Murray Garvin has been offered a four-year contract extension. The agreement will run through June 30, 2018.

"I have the utmost confidence in Coach Garvin’s ability to lead our men’s basketball program, " said SC State President Thomas J. Elzey. "His expertise as well as his personal devotion to each student-athlete is a testament to the culture of excellence he fosters, both on and off the basketball court. "

In his first full season at the helm, Garvin led the Bulldogs to an 8th place finish in the MEAC, the highest finish for the men’s basketball program in three seasons. The season highlights included a season sweep of Big South Champion Coastal Carolina, an NCAA tournament participant, and a home win versus defending MEAC Champion NC A & T State University.

Last season, the Bulldogs snapped a 25-game MEAC road losing streak and also earned victories over teams coached by two of the league’s most successful coaches.

The men’s basketball program has surpassed several milestones under Garvin’s leadership. Among them, increasing retention and graduation rates among student-athletes, re-establishing Bulldog basketball camps which brought more than 1000 campers to the campus, and implementing a Student Success Mentoring program in the Greater Orangeburg community.

"I would like to thank President Thomas J. Elzey for granting me the opportunity to lead the SC State men’s basketball program," said Garvin. "I am also grateful for Athletics Director Charlene M. Johnson, my family, our team and the entire athletics division. With their support, we continue our mission to build and sustain a winning program that is recognized as a dominant force in the MEAC."

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