Rodney Terry, who is in his sixth season as Fresno State’s head men’s basketball coach, has committed to a new 5-year contract, which was finalized on Wednesday, through 2021.
“It is an incredible honor to be the head coach here at Fresno State and I’m very excited about what we have built,” Terry said. “We’re really appreciative of the wonderful support we receive from our University and community. Dr. Castro has a vision for how academics and athletics are rising together at Fresno State, which is a further testament to how committed we are to winning on and off the court. We take great pride in how we represent the Valley.”
Terry’s new 5-year contract with Fresno State, which is retroactive to July 1, 2016, runs through April 30, 2021.
“The hard work and integrity Coach Terry brings to the program every day is just one of the reasons this new contact was developed and executed,” Fresno State Director of Athletics Jim Bartko said. “Rodney is an excellent game prep coach and knows the X’s and O’s; however, it is his development of these students into young men who will make a difference in our community that is a wonderful attribute that makes Coach Terry special. I look forward to more championships and post season play under his leadership.”
Under Terry’s leadership, Fresno State won the 2016 Mountain West Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 for the first time since 2001.
During the 2015-16 season, Fresno State won 25 games, which is the third most wins in a single season in school history, including wins in nine of its last 10 games and 11 of its last 12, and set a Save Mart Center record for most home victories in a single season with 16.
With a 13-5 record in league play last season, the ‘Dogs finished second in the conference’s regular season standings, which gave the Bulldogs their highest seed for a conference tournament since 2001. This was fourth consecutive season in which Fresno State improved its conference win total, which has only been accomplished by eight schools in the nation, including Texas A&M and South Carolina.
With Terry’s guidance, Fresno State has won 21 or more games in two of the past three seasons. Fresno State guard Marvelle Harris was named the 2015-16 Mountain West Preseason and Postseason Player of the Year. Fresno State also finished the season in the Top 5 nationally in turnover margin and went 6-0 in games decided by a single possession a year ago.
This season, Fresno State will enter Mountain West play with an 8-4 record, which is the second straight season the Bulldogs have opened 8-4 through the first 12 games.
