Utah State Re-Affirms Stew Morrill's Contract

Utah State Re-Affirms Stew Morrill's Contract

Aggie head coach is "extremely valuable" says acting director of athletics Fred Hunsaker

After guiding Utah State's basketball team to a 25-4 season and the school's first ranking in the national polls since 1978, Aggie head coach Stew Morrill is being rewarded with a contract enhancement it was announced on Thursday (March 25).

"We are re-affirming his contract," said acting director of athletics Fred Hunsaker. "He is extremely valuable to us and we want him to know how much we appreciate him and what he has done for our program. We look forward to many more years of association with Coach Morrill."

Morrill has eight years remaining on his contract which will keep him in Logan through 2012. The enhancement will not include additional years.

"When I came to Utah State, I thought this would probably be my last coaching job," Morrill said. "This gesture by Utah State makes me quite certain of that. Loyalty is a two-way street and it is really nice when everyone involved understands that principle."

"I have said on many occasions how much I enjoy coaching at Utah State University and living in Cache Valley," Morrill said. "I am very appreciative of the commitment and support that the administration has given to me and our coaching staff. We are truly excited about the accomplishments of the past six years and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead."

The 51-year old Morrill has amassed a 143-46 record in six seasons at Utah State and has taken the Aggies to postseason play in each of the last five years. USU has won three Big West regular season (2000, 02, 04) and three Big West tournament (2000, 01 and 03) titles in his tenure.

After a 15-13 record in his first year at USU in 1999, USU has averaged 25.6 wins in the last five seasons, including back-to-back 28-6 marks in 2000 and 2001. This past season the Aggies were 25-4, including a 17-1 mark in Big West Conference play and were ranked in the national polls for the first time since 1978.

In 2001, USU posted its first NCAA Tournament win since 1970 when the Aggies defeated Ohio State in the first round before losing to UCLA two days later.