Fennelly Agrees To Extension

AMES, Iowa ? Bill Fennelly has been provided the opportunity to coach women's basketball at Iowa State University for the remainder of his career after agreeing to a 12-year, $10.6 million deal. Fennelly will receive $7 million in guaranteed compensation and is eligible to earn an additional $3.6 million in incentives over the life of the contract. The contract expires in 2019 when Fennelly turns 62.

“We wanted to provide Coach Fennelly a lifetime contract,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “This 12-year contract assures Bill that he can be the Iowa State women's basketball coach for the remainder of his career.”

The highly popular Fennelly has built a program which annually ranks in the Top 10 nationally for attendance after inheriting a team which attracted sparse crowds. Fennelly's energy and passion has created a following that is the envy of most schools.

“I am humbled and extremely pleased to receive this support from President Geoffroy and Jamie,” Fennelly said. “ISU is such a special place for the Fennelly family. The countless and very special relationships we've formed in the last 12 years at Iowa State are the foundation of why we love the Cyclones. Receiving an opportunity to extend those relationships and, most importantly, continue coaching and teaching young women at this world-renowned university is more than I could have asked for.”

Iowa State compiled a 26-9 overall mark in 2006-07 and played its way into the Big 12 Tournament championship game as the No. 5 seed. The 26 wins were the third-most in program history and included an NCAA Tournament win vs. Washington.

Fennelly's 12-year-record at Iowa State is 259-119 (.685) and includes eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His 2000 Cyclones won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships (the 2001 team also captured the league tourney title). He has coached four All-Americans at ISU and 32 All-Big 12 choices.

Fennelly's contract was set to expire in 2011, but Pollard offered Fennelly the extension after the Cyclones' season concluded Monday in the second-round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. Fennelly has earned four amendments to his original contract based on consistently winning on the court and in the classroom.

“Coach Fennelly represents exactly what our athletics program stands for ? excellence in both the classroom and on the basketball court,” Pollard said. “Bill has clearly been our most successful coach during his tenure and this contract rewards him for his invaluable contributions to our athletics department and Iowa State University.”

Iowa State University Athletics

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