Binghamton Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Elliott has given seventh-year head men’s basketball coach Tommy Dempsey a contract extension through the 2020-21 season, the department announced on Tuesday. Dempsey was beginning the final year of his existing contract this winter.

“I believe strongly in the future success of our program under Tommy’s leadership,” Elliott said. “We have an exciting group of athletes who I believe will be a big part of that success. In addition to the bright future on the court, the culture of academic excellence and citizenship that Tommy has built is exemplary and is consistent with our expectations at Binghamton.”

A 16-year collegiate head coach with 254 career wins, Dempsey has established season wins records at three different schools. His initial five-year deal at Binghamton was extended three seasons after the 2014-15 season.

In this past offseason, Dempsey and his staff brought in eight newcomers, including four starters to complement senior holder J.C. Show. Freshman guard Sam Sessoms (19.3 ppg.) has quickly lived up to his scholastic billing and transfers Chancellor Barnard (9.0 ppg.) and Richard Caldwell, Jr. (9.7 ppg.) have given the 2018-19 Bearcats a new spark early in the season. Another elite recruit, freshman Michael Besselink (Finland) will have his collegiate career delayed a year due to a preseason injury.

Off the court, Dempsey’s BU program earned a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award in 2018 for maintaining a grade-point average above a 3.0. Four times during his coaching career his teams have received the NCAA Public Recognition Award for having an Academic Progress Rate (APR) score in the top 10 percent of the nation.

Story Courtesy: John Hartrick ([email protected])

https://bubearcats.com/news/2018/11/13/mens-basketball-coach-dempsey-given-extension.aspx