The University at Buffalo has signed head women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack to a new five-year contract. The new deal runs through the 2020-21 season. She had three years remaining on her previous contract.
7 Eyewitness Sports Anchor Shawn Stepner was the first to report the news on Twitter:
BREAKING: I've learned Univ. at #Buffalo has signed head women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack to new 5-yr contract through 2020-21
— Shawn Stepner (@StepnerWKBW) May 24, 2016
Legette-Jack has led the Bulls for the past four seasons. They won their first Mid-American Conference Championship and earned their first NCAA Tournament berth last season.
Below is the press release from UB:
The University at Buffalo and women's basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack have agreed on a new five-year contract, Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced on Tuesday. The new deal will keep Legette-Jack on the UB sidelines through the 2020-21 season.
"We are extremely pleased Coach Jack will continue to lead our women's basketball program," Greene said. "Felisha represents the best of what we look for at Buffalo. She has been a positive figure in our community as well as a successful leader on the court. Her commitment to this program is unparalleled, and I look forward to seeing her on the sidelines for many years to come."
Having just finished her fourth season with the Bulls, Legette-Jack led UB to its third straight winning season, the first time UB has had three straight winning seasons since 1998-2001. UB has posted 17 or more wins in three straight years for the first time since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1998.
2015-16 was the most historic season in program history as Legette-Jack helped lead the Bulls to their first MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. UB finished the year with a 20-14 record, its first 20-win season in nearly two decades.
Under Legette-Jack's watchful eye, junior Joanna Smith blossomed into one of the best players in the conference in 2015-16 as she became just the fourth UB player in program history to earn first-team All-MAC honors after averaging 18.3 points and 6.1 rebounds while also setting the program record for three-pointers made in a season (100). Stephanie Reid joined Smith on the All-MAC squads as she earned third-team honors after a great sophomore campaign. Legette-Jack has now placed at least one player on an All-MAC squad in each of her four seasons at the helm of the Bulls.
"I would like to thank President Satish Tripathi and Director of Athletics, Allen Greene for their continued support of my leadership of our women's basketball program," stated head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. "With the support of our great administration and this amazing community, we will continue to flourish."
Legette-Jack was named the 12th head coach in UB women's basketball history on June 14, 2012.
"We're excited for what we are building here and we are on our way to new-found heights," Legette-Jack said. "Going to the NIT last year for the first time in program history really set a precedent. Getting to the NCAA Tournament this year shows there is no ceiling to how great we can become. I'm honored to continue to be a part of this great program."
Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter: @StepnerWKBW
