March 19, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Patrick Chambers, head coach of the Penn State men's basketball team, has received a two-year contract extension, Sandy Barbour, Director of Athletics, announced Thursday. The extension will keep him at the helm of the Nittany Lions through at least the 2018-19 season.
"I am grateful for the commitment and enthusiasm for the men's basketball program Eric Barron, Sandy Barbour and the Penn State administration have shown," Chambers said. "We are proud of what we have accomplished, but know there is so much more ahead. I think our staff and players have laid a foundation to build upon for years to come."
The 2014-15 campaign ended with three wins in the final four games, giving the Nittany Lions an 18-16 overall record and the most wins since 2011, a total that has been topped just twice in the last decade. Penn State knocked off No. 5 seed Iowa and Nebraska before falling in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals to fourth-seeded Purdue.
"I support what Patrick is doing and I support his long-term leadership of this program," Barbour said. "I love the heart with which his team represents the university, Nittany Nation and the community, both on the court with measureable success and improvements and off with a 100 percent graduation rate and active participation in countless community activities. With a core group of returning players and the highest-rated recruiting class in school history coming next fall, the future is certainly promising. I believe with the right support and resources, Patrick can take this program to a level of success which everyone can get behind."
Penn State started the season 12-1, posting the most non-conference wins in program history by breaking the previous high of 11 set during the 2008-09 season. Then-No. 4 Wisconsin snapped the Nittany Lions' 10-game winning streak in the league opener Dec. 31, which was the longest for a PSU team since the 1995-96 squad opened the year going 13-0.
The Nittany Lions are expected to lose four letterwinners from the 2014-15 roster, including No. 4 all-time leading scorer D.J. Newbill and third-leading rebounder Ross Travis. The highest-rated recruiting class in PSU history will come on board in 2015-16, however, joining eight returning letterwinners led by Brandon Taylor, Jordan Dickerson, Geno Thorpe and Shep Garner. Garner and Thorpe were the second and third leading scorers down the stretch this season, while Taylor, Dickerson and Donovon Jack all moved into the Top 10 in career blocks while upping the team's defensive presence.