A former University of Washington basketball player, Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar has always stated his desire to remain a Husky for as long as possible.
On Friday, the school announced a contract extension for Romar, ensuring he will remain the Washington coach well into the next decade.
Romar and the school agreed to general terms of a new contract last fall, but held off on finalizing the deal until after the season.
The contract, which runs through the 2015-2016 season, has a base salary of $375,000, but guarantees Romar $1.105 million per year when sponsorships, endorsements, media commitments, and other factor are figured it. An additional $200,000 of deferred pay and up to $200,000 in performance bonuses can push the total value of the deal up to $1.505 million per year.
“When I took this job, I made it very clear that the University of Washington is the place where I wanted to be and that I was not interested in being anywhere else,” Romar said in a statement released by the school. “I continue to make that very clear. I am so thankful for this commitment from Dr. (Mark) Emmert and Todd Turner so my family and I can be at a place where we have always wanted to be.
“This also allows us to continue to focus on making this program a national contender year-in and year-out. It is truly a blessing to be in this position. I really believe in this university and what it stands for and I couldn’t be more excited to receive a commitment that will allow us to stay here.”
In his five years at Washington, Romar has compiled a 103-55 record while leading the Huskies to three straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2004 to 2006. His 2005 and 2006 teams both made the sweet 16.
The Huskies went 19-13 last season and missed out on tournament play, but return four starters.
“I can’t imagine a better fit for the University of Washington basketball program than Lorenzo Romar,” said Todd Turner, Washington’s Director of Athletics. “It is rare, indeed, in this day and time to have a coach who loves his university and his job enough to make such a long-term commitment.
“Lorenzo is one of the UW’s finest ambassadors, a great person and, not coincidentally, one of the nation’s top basketball coaches. We are very fortunate to have him continue to lead our program into the next decade. He is one of those truly gifted people who has a great outlook on life and is able to have a positive impact upon everyone around him. In just five short years, he has elevated our basketball program to one of national prominence.”
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