Gonzo Gets 3-Year Contract Extension

Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez has received a three-year contract extension through the 2014-15 season.

Gonzalez, 46, originally received a five-year contract with a rollover year added.

Financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed.

“This extension serves as a strong indicator of the University’s commitment and support for Bobby Gonzalez as head coach of our men’s basketball program,” Seton Hall AD Joe Quinlan said.  “We expect to be successful and believe that Coach Gonzalez has taken the necessary steps to position our program for future success.  He has made progress with the program in only three years and we are very pleased to have him as our head coach.”

Gonzalez has compiled a record of 47-46 through three seasons, including a 17-11 mark last season in which the Pirates went 7-11 in the Big East.

Gonzalez served a school-imposed one-game suspension in the Big East opener at Syracuse last year following his criticism of the officials in the 2008 Big East finale against Rutgers.

Seton Hall also beat two ranked opponents — Southern Cal and Georgetown — and won its first Big East conference game since 2003.

He is entering his fourth season at Seton Hall and is expected to have his strongest team yet because of the eligibility of transfers Herb Pope (New Mexico State), Keon Lawrence (Missouri) and Jeff Robinson (Memphis). 6-11, 340-pound center Melvyn Oliver also becomes eligible.

“I am excited and truly pleased with the devotion Seton Hall has shown me with this extension,” Gonzalez said.  “With the positive steps we’ve taken in our first three years, we now believe we are ready to take the program to the next level.  The Seton Hall administration and overall community has been incredibly supportive throughout our time here and now we know we’ll be a part of this family for the long term.”

Before coming to Seton Hall, Gonzalez led Manhattan to the NCAA Tournament on two occasions and compiled a 129-77 record over seven years.

“Coach Gonzalez has brought us a long way in three years in the most competitive conference in the country,” said Monsignor Robert Sheeran, Seton Hall’s outgoing president. “He has my enthusiastic support and I’m looking forward to a memorable season this year.”

While Seton Hall is at it, it should consider promoting assistant coach Dermon Player to Associate Head Coach.

Player is one of the hardest-working and most well liked Big East assistants around, and especially in the New York metropolitan area.

“He has tremendous respect from all of the basketball (high school/AAU) people in the New York City area,” one influential AAU guy said. “He’s easily the hardest working assistant coach in the metro area. Now that Gonzo’s got his extension, he really needs to show Derm some love and take care of him.”

Also, administrative assistant Rodrick Rhodes, the former St. Anthony star, resigned over the summer.

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