March 27, 2011
Coach Mooney's Press Conference:
RICHMOND, Va. - Richmond head men's basketball coach Chris Mooney has agreed to a 10-year contract with the University of Richmond, the school announced Sunday night. The agreement now runs through the 2020-21 season.
Mooney signed the contract Sunday evening and a press conference streamed live on RichmondSpiders.com will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. Financial terms will not be released.
"Chris Mooney has demonstrated that he is the right fit for the University of Richmond. He has attracted quality student-athletes and guided them to success both on the court and in the classroom," Richmond athletics director Jim Miller said. "This agreement clearly demonstrates Coach Mooney's and the University's commitment to the long-term success of Spider basketball."
Mooney led the Spiders to a 29-8 record in 2010-11, including a first-ever Atlantic 10 championship in the school's 10th year in the conference, and the programs' second-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. This is just the second time the Spiders have appeared in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. Richmond's 29 wins is a school record, eclipsing the 26 victories last season that tied a school record and vaulted the Spiders to a No. 24 final national ranking in the AP Poll.
"Jim Miller, President Ayers and the entire University community have made this a place where we can build a national program," said Mooney. "We are excited about the commitment that the University has made to the basketball program and are looking forward to the future."
Mooney's six-year record at Richmond is 112-87 (.563), including 55-17 the past two seasons (.764). The Spiders have improved each of the past four years (16, 20, 26, 29 wins) and accumulated the most wins during the past two seasons, three seasons (75) and four seasons (91) than in any other 2, 3 and 4-year spans in 99 years of Richmond basketball.
Under Mooney's guidance, the Spiders have 12 wins over BCS schools, including 5 in 7 games this season. He has led the Spiders to seven wins over ranked teams since March 2009, including triumphs over No. 8 Purdue, No. 24 Temple and No. 25 Vanderbilt this season.
Richmond's senior class amassed 91 victories during the past four years, the most by any senior class in school history. The graduating class of Kevin Anderson, Justin Harper, Dan Geriot, Kevin Smith and Kevin Hovde includes three 1,000 point scorers. Anderson's 2,165 points are second on the school's all-time scoring list. He earned A-10 Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America accolades in 2010 and was named A-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2011. Harper is 12th with 1,457 points and Geriot is 16th with 1,389 points.
Richmond returns 12 players and adds a heralded incoming recruiting class for 2011-12, the school's 100th season of college basketball.
Release courtesy of Richmond Sports Information