Press Release
Western Carolina University
The Western Carolina University Board of Trustees approved a multi-year contract extension for head men’s basketball coach Larry Hunter.
The trustees’ action, which came during the board’s quarterly meeting Friday, June 6, provides a guaranteed extension of Hunter’s contract for three years, with the option of the agreement being extended for another two years based on his winning percentage and game revenues.
Under the new agreement, which takes effect July 1, Hunter will remain as the Catamounts’ coach through at least June 30, 2017, and through June 30, 2019, if performance goals are met.
“I am excited to extend our relationship with Coach Hunter,” said Randy Eaton, director of athletics at WCU. “His commitment to our student-athletes, both on the court and in the classroom, is an example to all of our coaches and staff. I look forward to the future success of our men’s basketball program with Larry at the helm. His teams have come very close in recent years to winning the Southern Conference Tournament, and I anticipate we will finally cross that hurdle in the very near future.”
Head men’s basketball coach at WCU since 2005, Hunter led the Catamounts to a 19-15 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the Southern Conference in 2013-14. He is the 10th winningest active coach in the NCAA with 649 career wins in 33 seasons as a head coach.
In the classroom, Hunter’s teams have been recognized with the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate Public Recognition Award in back-to-back seasons, 2011-12 and 2012-13. His players have earned Southern Conference All-Academic Winter Team honors eight times and have been named to the SoCon Honor Roll 17 times.
“Coach Hunter and I stand hand-in-hand when it comes to placing student-athlete experience and academics first,” Eaton said. “I look forward to continuing our relationship and working together to continually surpass our academic goals while also bringing a championship back to Cullowhee.”
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