August 5, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents recently approved a salary increase and contract extension for head women's basketball coach Gary Blair through 2012.
Blair, a two-time national finalist for the prestigious Naismith Coach of the Year Award, has brought instant respect to the Texas A&M women's basketball program since his appointment in 2003. Blair and his loyal coaching staff, comprised of longtime associate head coach and defensive mastermind Vic Schaefer, associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Kelly Bond and assistant coach Johnnie Harris, have elevated A&M into one of the nation's elite programs after just five seasons in Aggieland.
One of the winningest active Division I coaches in the women's game today, his new contract will now pay him $800,000 annually through May 31, 2012.
"When you can keep continuity within your coaching staff, kids believe in what you are doing and where your program is headed," Blair said. "It makes them go away with the feeling that this is where they want to go to school, play basketball, compete to win Big 12 Championships and national titles, and graduate with a valuable degree from a world-class institution."
During a record-setting 2007-08 campaign, the Aggies finished ranked a program-best No. 8 nationally, reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history and captured their second-straight Big 12 Conference Championship by defeating Oklahoma State in the league's postseason tournament held in Kansas City, Mo.
"Coach Blair has led our women's basketball program to the heights we knew he would reach upon his hiring five years ago," Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne said. "Our first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance in April exceeded expectations we could have only imagined before the hiring of Coach Blair and his staff. He is a great ambassador of the women's game who continues to produce winners in the classroom and on the court. Coach Blair is a proven winner himself and I see our program's success continuing for years to come."
The 2007 Big 12 Coach of the Year went on to lead the Aggies to a school-record 29-8 record and also claimed his 500th career victory against Iowa State on Feb. 20, 2008, to become the 36th all-time Division I coach to reach the milestone in NCAA history. Blair also holds the distinction of being one of only five coaches in NCAA history to take three schools to the NCAA Tournament and is the winningest women's basketball coach in school history by percentage (.623). His overall record is even more impressive with a .698 winning percentage over the course of his 23-year coaching career which includes stops at Stephen F. Austin from 1985-93 and Arkansas from 1993-03.
"It is such an honor to coach at Texas A&M and work with young people," Blair said. "Thank you to Bill Byrne, our administration and the University System for allowing us to continue to compete at the highest level. Very few programs around the country have the full support of their University President, Board of Regents, Athletic Director and administration which makes A&M a very special place."