Arkansas extends Anderson

By Nate Allen

Special to the News-Times

FAYETTEVILLE - Approved Thursday by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, a two-year extension of Razorbacks Basketball coach Mike Anderson’s contract signed by Anderson on Nov. 22 and signed by Joseph Steinmetz, Chancellor of the UA’s Fayetteville flagship on Nov. 30 and signed by UA System President Donald Bobbitt on Dec. 1 is officially ratified, the UA announced Friday.

Arkansas’ men’s basketball coach for seven seasons, Anderson had signed a contract extension in 2015. This latest extension has under Anderson under UA contract through March, 2022.

“I am appreciative of this meaningful expression of support for the continued direction of the Razorback men’s basketball program,” Anderson said through Friday’s press release. “Our entire staff and our student-athletes are committed to competing and winning in the Southeastern Conference and nationally. We are also making a difference in helping mold young men and pointing them toward their college degree. We have made significant progress, but we still have work left to do. I’m confident, with the passionate support of the Razorback fans, we can reach our goals.”

Jon Fagg, the Razorbacks’ sports administrator for basketball and a UA senior associate athletic director also was quoted.

“We began discussions with coach Anderson about an extension in April following the NCAA Tournament, including our tightly contested matchup with eventual national champion North Carolina,” Fagg said. “Razorback men’s basketball is on the rise. Our team is among the best in the SEC this season and the upcoming recruiting classes are among the best in program history. We are excited about the future and partnering with coach Anderson and his staff as we take our program to new heights.”

New Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek had not yet been hired at Arkansas when Anderson signed the extension in November.

The UA reports that Anderson’s annual compensation is $2.55 million.

An Arkansas assistant for 17 years under former national champion coach Nolan Richardson, Anderson has a 342-178 head coaching record compiled since 2002-2003 at Alabama-Birmingham, Missouri and since 2011-2012 at Arkansas.

Including the current Razorbacks’ 14-6 record going into Saturday’s SEC-Big 12 Challenge game with Oklahoma State at Walton Arena, Anderson at Arkansas is 143-47 with best seasons of 27-9 in 2014-2015 and 26-10 in 2016-2017.

Both teams advanced two rounds deep into the NCAA Tournament.

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