At this time a year ago, Richard Pitino was just hoping his bosses would keep him around to coach the Gophers men's basketball team one more season. He wanted to prove his players could rebound from a program record for losses and embarrassing off-court issues.
With the biggest turnaround in Big Ten and program history, Pitino not only earned back the support of fans and administration, but he also earned a new contract.
Pitino signed a one-year extension Wednesday, an agreement that puts the 34-year-old coach under contract through the 2021-22 season.
"I'm obviously excited about continuing to build this program," Pitino said. "Any time you get an opportunity to sign an extension at a place you love to coach and a place you love to live, you run at the opportunity."
No financial details were included in the university's announcement, but Board of Regents Chairman Dean Johnson said the salary and buyout terms would go unchanged. Pitino will make $1.7 million, plus incentives, next season.
The extension, pending Board of Regents approval in a May 12 meeting, comes less than two months after the coach finished what was more than just a bounce-back year in his fourth season.
After an abysmal 8-23 season in 2015-16, a 16-victory turnaround last season made the Gophers the most improved team in college basketball. They went 24-10 and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013.
Johnson said contract negotiations between the U and Pitino's agent had been ongoing since the NCAA tournament berth was landed in March. He expects there to be a majority vote at the regents meeting to approve the extension.