After a highlight year for the men’s basketball team which was ranked as high as No. 12 nationally and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 seasons, the University of Massachusetts has announced a contract extension for head coach Derek Kellogg. Under the new terms, Kellogg will be extended through the 2018-19 campaign with provisions to further extend him up to the 2020-21 season.
"We are extremely pleased with the job Derek has done in his time here and feel the program is in a good place," said Director of Athletics John McCutcheon. "He has built a solid foundation for the future. We felt it was appropriate to put something together that the University and he are both comfortable with in terms of the extension to keep him here for a long time."
"I’d like to thank President Robert Caret, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and our Director of Athletics John McCutcheon for the support they have given not only myself, but the program overall, during the past years," said Kellogg. "I am excited to lead this program into the future. Our players have represented this University in a first-class manner and I am excited for where we are heading."
Under the amended terms of the contract extension, Kellogg, 41, will make $994,500 per year prior to any contract bonuses for team academic or athletic success or merit/cost-of-living increases which are afforded to University personnel.
Kellogg `95 enters his seventh season at his alma mater with a 109-85 overall record. During his tenure, he has led the Minutemen to three postseason appearances including the 2012 NIT Final Four, the 2013 NIT First Round and the 2014 NCAA Second Round. UMass has posted 20+ wins in each of the last three years and finished the 2013-14 campaign with a No. 26 RPI and a No. 45 strength of schedule.
The increase in success for the Minutemen during Kellogg’s tenure has also led to an increase in revenue, external gifts and media exposure. Kellogg has taken a lead role in helping secure several major external gifts, including an $11 million donation, for capital projects such as the Champions Center. Since his first season as head coach in 2008-09, membership and donations to the Court Club have increased 80 percent and 50 percent, respectively. Ticket revenue has also witnessed growth during the past six years with the 2013-14 season nearly reaching $1 million.
Nationally, the Minutemen have enjoyed a range of exposure from national publications and television. Over the past three years in particular, UMass has had 66 games televised regionally and nationally with 18 more slated for the upcoming season.
A native of Springfield, Mass., Kellogg was named the 21st head coach in the program’s history on April 23, 2008. The return of Kellogg and the elevation of the program over the last several years has helped increase attendance at the Mullins Center as well. Last year saw four sellout crowds with an average of 6,600 fans per game. The increase in average attendance by 1,345 fans from 2012-13 to 2013-14 ranked as the 10th best jump in the nation. Additionally, UMass ranked among the top-30 nationally in home attendance for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.
Recognized as one of the top young up-and-coming coaches in the nation, Kellogg already ranks as the third most-winningest head coach in UMass’ history. His 109 victories are third behind legendary coaches Jack Leaman (217) and John Calipari (193).
The Minutemen are slated to start the 2014-15 season on Nov. 14 against Siena at the Mullins Center. UMass enters the season as a team "Receiving Votes" in the USA Today Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll. Last week the Minutemen were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll. UMass completed the 2013-14 season with a 24-9 overall record and a 10-6 mark in league play.
