Morrill signs 10-year extention with USU
After guiding USU to its first NCAA Tournament win in 31 years this season and matching the school record for wins in a single season with 28, head basketball coach Stew Morrill has signed a new 10-year contract that will keep him at USU through the 2011 season it was announced by Athletic Director Rance Pugmire.
Over the past two seasons, USU has posted identical 28-6 records, won back-to-back Big West Conference Tournament championships for the first time in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in 20 years. Its 56 wins over the past two years ranks fourth in the country.
“I said last year we knew we had a good coach and we want him to stay here a long time,” Pugmire said. “What we’ve learned is we have a great coach and we want him to end his career here.
“Stew and his staff are very well respected nationally and I know as well as anyone how fortunate we are to have them at Utah State University.”
Morrill, whose 71-25 record in three years as USU’s head coach is unmatched by any coach in Aggie history, has also had outstanding success off the court as nine of his 10 seniors have graduated at Utah State during his tenure. He has also posted an incredible 37-11 record in conference play, including a 29-3 mark over the past two seasons.
“Obviously when you look at college coaching, 10-year contracts are extremely rare,” Morrill said. “I’m very appreciative of the confidence shown in me and my staff by President [Kermit] Hall and Rance.
“This kind of security for my family and our staff is very humbling and it allows me the opportunity to be able to finish my coaching career at USU, which has been the basic plan since I came here.”
In 15 years of collegiate coaching Morrill owns a 289-163 (.639) record. He was 97-52 in five years at Montana (1987-91) and 121-86 in seven years at Colorado State University (1992-98).