After leading the Fordham men’s basketball program to its finest season in more than three decades, Keith Urgo has signed a long-term contract extension to remain at the helm of the Rams.
Urgo, the 2023 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, has inked a deal that will keep him in the Bronx through at least the 2027-28 season.
“I’d like to thank Ed Kull, President Tania Tetlow and the Board of Trustees for continuing their commitment to our program,” said Urgo. “When I came to Fordham two years ago, I knew we could build something special here. I’m thrilled that the University leadership shares that vision and has made its commitment abundantly clear in terms of program investment and resources. My family and I love it here at Fordham and I can’t wait to see how high this program can climb. Every day is a great day to be a Ram!”
Kull, who promoted Urgo to the position of head coach in April of 2022, announced the extension following a season that saw the Rams finish 25-8, equaling the second-highest win total in program history. Fordham’s 12 Atlantic 10 wins and .667 conference winning percentage also set new high-water marks for the program. The Rams, who tied for second in the final conference standings, reached the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship for just the second time in school history and the first since 2006.
“To put it simply, Keith Urgo believes in Fordham and Fordham believes in Keith Urgo,” said Kull. “We hope that this long-term commitment is the next step in building Fordham men’s basketball into a consistent winner on the Atlantic 10 and national stages. I think I speak for the entire Ramily when I say that I can’t wait to see where this program goes next.”
The first Fordham head man to win Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors since 1999, Urgo also saw three of his players garner all-league recognition this season. Darius Quisenberry was named to the All-Conference Second Team, Khalid Moore earned a spot on the All-Conference Third Team and Kyle Rose claimed a place on the league’s All-Defensive Team.
“We are beyond proud of what Coach Urgo has achieved as a member of the Fordham family,” said President Tetlow. “His ability to mentor, push, inspire, and teach our student-athletes has been a joy to watch.”
In addition to improving the Rams’ on-court product, Urgo also worked tirelessly to change the team’s perception across campus and across the city. Each of the Rams’ last six home games at the Rose Hill Gym was a sellout, anchored by a lively student section that fed off Urgo’s inexhaustible energy and appreciation. Urgo took to calling the Rams’ 98-year-old home “Rose Thrill,” a name that has stuck with the Fordham community and fans.
Urgo has both a Jesuit and a Fordham pedigree; he attended Gonzaga College High School and Fairfield University while his father, Don, is a double alumnus of Fordham.
Urgo came to Rose Hill in the summer of 2021 as a key part of Kyle Neptune’s staff and helped lead one of the nation’s most impressive turnarounds. The Rams, who had won just two games the year prior, finished 16-16 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time in 15 years. The team set a new high-water mark for the KenPom era, finishing 41st nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Following Urgo’s promotion to head coach, the Rams retained their top six scorers with remaining eligibility on the roster and kept together a stellar 2022 recruiting class headlined by Will Richardson, the program’s highest-rated high school prospect in more than a decade.
The Rams are set to welcome two scholarship freshmen in 2023-24: local product Jahmere Tripp out of Our Saviour Lutheran and Alex Bates, a sharp-shooting guard from North Carolina. Like Richardson, Tripp is also a three-star national recruit according to 247Sports.
Urgo, Fordham Agree to Long-Term Contract Extension
