Feb. 9, 2001

CLEVELAND - The contract of Cleveland State University men's basketball coach Rollie Massimino has been extended through the next four years, Director of Athletics John Konstantinos announced today.

With the extension, Massimino, who has a career record of 493-349, is under contract through the 2004-2005 season.

"In the interest of assuring the continuity of a program which has shown significant progress in the classroom and on the court, we are extending the contract of Coach Massimino through the 2004-2005 season," Konstantinos said. "When you build for the long term, you begin with a solid foundation and Rollie has done just that.

"Over the past five years he has built a program which speaks to the mission of the University, has produced 17 graduates and has a basketball record which has improved each season. I am secure in the knowledge that the men's basketball program will be in excellent hands for the next four years."

Under Massimino, who took over the CSU program in 1996, the Vikings have shown steady advancement. The Vikes were coming off a 5-21 season in 1995-96, but since then have gone 9-19, 12-15, 14-14, 16-14 and are currently 17-9 and in first-place in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Cleveland State, which was one of only eight schools to increase its win total in each of the last four years at the end of the 1999-2000 season, is the only one so far that has continued the trend this year.

"I'm very happy and honored that the administration has shown confidence in the stability and direction of the program," said Massimino. "This is another step in our progression in becoming a major college basketball program."