May 7, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - Late Monday afternoon, UCF men's basketball head coach Kirk Speraw and the UCF Athletics Association came to agreement on a new four-year contract that will keep him at the school through the 2010-11 season.
"Today was a major step forward for UCF Athletics," said Keith Tribble, UCF Director of Athletics and Executive Vice President. "We are excited to have Coach Speraw securely in place so that he can continue building our men's basketball program into one that contends for championships. With the successes of last season bolstered by a strong recruiting class, several returning players and the opening of the UCF Convocation Center, this season's tip-off should be the most highly-anticipated in school history."
Speraw is entering his 15th campaign with the Knights. This past season, he was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year after leading UCF to a 22-9 overall record. In only their second season the league, UCF went 11-5 in C-USA play to finish second in the 12-team conference.
"We are thankful for the support that Keith Tribble and President Hitt continue to give to our basketball program," said Speraw. "With the excitement of the new building, this is a great time to be a Knight and I am thrilled that we can continue to build UCF into one of Conference USA's top programs."
As UCF's head coach, Speraw is 231-187. He has guided the Knights to the NCAA Tournament on four occasions since he arrived in Orlando in 1993.
UCF has averaged 21 victories over the last five seasons. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, the Knights have won 106 contests, a mark that ranks 31st nationally and second among all schools in Florida during that span.
Speraw is one of just 17 coaches in the country who have spent at least 14 seasons with their current school. Since joining C-USA with five other programs before the 2005-06 season, UCF has recorded 18 league victories, the most among the new members.
This fall, UCF will make its debut at the 10,000-seat Convocation Center on campus. The state-of-the-art venue will give the Knights one of the top facilities in the region.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports.