The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Wednesday authorized Texas A&M University Interim President Mark A. Hussey to negotiate and execute a two-year extension to the contract of men’s basketball head coach Billy Kennedy, as proposed by Director of Athletics Eric Hyman.

“Coach Kennedy understands our commitment to building champions both in the classroom and in competition,” Hyman said. “Our basketball program has made tremendous strides academically under Billy’s leadership, while he has also raised the overall on-court talent level of our student-athletes. Our ultimate goal is to build the Texas A&M basketball program the right way, with a foundation for sustained postseason success.”

Kennedy enters his fourth season at Texas A&M, coming off an 18-16 campaign in 2013-14 in which the Aggies participated in the College Basketball Invitational tournament. Over his last 10 years as a head coach, Kennedy’s teams have averaged more than 20 wins per season, earned four conference titles and made four trips to the postseason — two to the NCAA Tournament and one in the NIT.

“I want to thank Eric Hyman, the university, and the Board for recognizing that we are on the verge of building something special here at A&M,” Kennedy said. “Exciting times are coming for Aggie Basketball. I can’t wait for the season.”

The agreement extends Kennedy’s current contract to run through the 2018 season. Financial terms of the contract will remain unchanged.

Texas A&M men’s basketball will tip off the 103rd season in school history on Nov. 14 when the Aggies welcome Northwestern State to Reed Arena.