Let's Make a Deal: Many Coaches Have Security Extending Into Next Decade
September 5th, 2013 - 20:11
Mike Brey has come a long way in college basketball since commencing his playing career by averaging 5 points per game with Northwestern State (Natchitoches, La.) in 1977-78 and 1978-79 when the then NCAA Division I newcomer Demons compiled a 19-34 two-season record while losing to Louisiana College three times and East Texas Baptist once.
It might not duplicate the lifetime contract of Brey's former mentor, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, but his deal with Notre Dame through 2021-22 is among the longest defined coaching contracts. Northern Iowa's Ben Jacobson has the longest one (through 2024-25).
The length of Brey's pact certainly can be justified if he directs the Irish to its first NCAA Tournament championship game, but he first needs to assemble a winning career playoff mark and guide the Irish to a Final Four. A shaky economy is not deterring universities from dishing out long-term agreements as the following alphabetical list of coaches boast contracts extending at least five additional seasons into the next decade: