Loyola extends Whitesell

May 21, 2007, 22:00 GMT

Chicago, IL - Loyola of Chicago extended the contract of men's head basketball coach Jim Whitesell through the 2012 season on Monday.

Whitesell guided the Ramblers to their first 20-win season since 1984-85 last season, as the club went 21-11. In three seasons, Whitesell has steered the Ramblers to 53 total victories and consecutive winning campaigns for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85.

'I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to continue as the head coach at Loyola,' Whitesell said. 'This extension definitely will help us in terms of recruiting since kids know that we will be around for the foreseeable future...Our program has made progress the last few years and with the university leadership we have in place, we can continue to make strides.'

Whitesell is the first Loyola bench boss in school history to win eight or more Horizon League games in each of his first three seasons on the job. With 40 wins over the last two seasons, Loyola has won more games than any Horizon League school other than Butler.

'Jim's accomplishments and track record speaks for itself,' Loyola Director of Athletics John Planek said. 'Extending his contract is a sign of our confidence in his ability to lead our program now and in the years to come.'

© 2007 The Sports Network