Athletics Director Vic Cegles and Long Beach State have announced that Dan Monson has agreed to a five-year contract extension to remain as the head coach of the LBSU Men’s Basketball program through the 2018-19 season.

"Dan Monson has been a terrific leader for the basketball program and this extension will ensure the continuity we need advance the program, win championships and gain NCAA appearances," said Cegles. "His ability to find and recruit players who are committed to the community and to graduation has been outstanding."

In seven seasons at Long Beach State, Dan Monson has won three Big West Championships, three conference coach of the year honors, led the Beach to the 2011-12 NCAA Tournament, and begins the 2014-15 campaign just four victories away from becoming the winningest coach in school history.

"Simply put, I’m really excited," noted Monson. "In today’s day and age, stability in our profession is really hard to come by. It really makes me appreciate the special people I am surrounded by at the Beach – an administration and coaching staff second to none. This extension really shows that the university has confidence in what we’re doing here and in the direction of the program. I wake up every day honored to represent this university and am thrilled to have that opportunity for years to come."

Having passed Seth Greenberg last year, Monson will pass Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Tarkanian for the most wins at Long Beach State with his 123rd victory at LBSU.

Monson’s time also resembles Tarkanian’s in other ways. Both coaches are the only two in school history to lead the program to three consecutive postseason appearances, and only Greenberg, Tarkanian and Monson have guided the program to four straight winning seasons in Big West play.

In fact, after his first-season at Long Beach State, Monson has averaged nearly 12 wins per season in Big West conference play, and has finished no lower than third place in each of the last six seasons.

The former Gonzaga and Minnesota head coach stamped his signature on the program in other ways. In each of the last four seasons, Long Beach State has played the nation’s toughest non-conference schedule, earning signature wins in that schedule.

The 2011-12 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament captured wins at No. 9 Pittsburgh and No. 14 Xavier. Monson also holds the program’s only win over UCLA, and won against USC for the first time since 1999 in a home victory in the Walter Pyramid last season.

Additionally, Monson’s program has prepared his players for the future, both on the court and off. Professionally, two of Monson’s players at LBSU have signed professional contracts, and the program has also maintained strong graduation rates, holding steady over the APR progress rate during Monson’s seven seasons at the helm.