Winthrop Extends Marshall's Contract For Three Years Through 2007-08 Season

ROCK HILL, SC–Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman announced today that the contract of men’s head basketball coach Gregg Marshall has been extended for a three-year period which will carry the current conditions of the agreement through the 2008 season.

Marshall has led the Winthrop Eagles to an unprecedented four consecutive Big South Conference championships and to four appearances in the NCAA Championship Tournament. During his four-year tenure, the Eagles have compiled a 79-42 overall record (.653 winning percentage) and a 41-11 Big South Conference slate (.788). Even more remarkable is Winthrop’s home record during Marshall’s four years where the Eagles have won nearly 86 percent of the time with a 42-7 record.

"Gregg Marshall has brought a tremendous amount of recognition to Winthrop University over the past four years through his successful leadership with the men’s basketball program," said Hickman. "We hope this new contract agreement will help to keep him as the head coach of the Eagles for at least the next six years."

Winthrop was Marshall’s first head coaching job on any level. The 39-year-old South Carolina native began his head coaching career in 1998-99 as he took the Eagles from a last place finish to a Big South title and the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament. He served as an assistant coach for a total of 13 years at Marshall University, the College of Charleston, Belmont-Abbey, and his alma mater Randolph-Macon College where he graduated from in 1985.

"My family and I are both thrilled and appreciative of the university’s contract extension," said Marshall. "This is something we’ve been working on for many weeks now and we feel that our business of continuing to build a most successful men’s basketball program at Winthrop University is yet unfinished. Our first four years here have been comparable to a fairy tale beginning for any head coach. We look forward to what lies ahead.

"The one area that concerns me most with regards to our program is the lack of a better and more consistent attendance at our home games. We greatly appreciate all of the fans who have watched Winthrop basketball over the years as well as all of the new support that we have earned in the previous four seasons. It is my hope that the community as well as the student body will recognize not only the previous accomplishments, but the current quality of college basketball being played right here in our beautiful and refurbished Winthrop Coliseum. I would like to thank Dr. DiGiorgio (Winthrop President) and Tom Hickman for their faith and belief in me as well as all of the players, current and past, who have helped bring Winthrop basketball to its present level of excellence."