Twenty-nine months after the Metro State athletic program was spared from elimination, men’s basketball coach Mike Dunlap agreed Wednesday to a five-year contract extension at $148,000 a year.
“We’re thrilled,” Metro State athletic director Joan McDermott said. “We’ve obviously turned the corner, and the momentum is moving.”
While the Roadrunners secured Dunlap – although he can exit if a dream job arises – the 49-year-old coach rooted his family. His wife, Mollie, and children, Holt, 15, Spencer, 13, and Ellie, 10, can maintain the same house, friends, schools and sports teams they’ve enjoyed since Dad came to Metro State in 1997.
“That’s important to me,” said Dunlap, an Alaska native whose coaching career has taken him to Australia, Iowa and Southern California.
Dunlap is signed through July 1, 2011. A two-time Division II coach of the year, Dunlap has guided Metro State to nine consecutive NCAA berths, the 2000 and 2002 national championships and a 248-50 record.
His contract contains incentives to maintain academic standards. In the past three years, 100 percent of Dunlap’s players have graduated, according to Metro State.
Although Dunlap had two years remaining on his contract, the new deal is a sign of support from college president Stephen Jordan, who was hired last year.
“Dr. Jordan stepped up and said, ‘I’m going to be here for a while and I want you to stay around and make a commitment,”‘ Dunlap said.
Jordan noted Dunlap’s establishment of 18 seminars for his players, ranging from alcohol awareness to etiquette.
“By extending Coach Dunlap’s contract, I truly believe the college is not only rewarding him for the outstanding leadership he provides on the court, but off the court,” Jordan said.
McDermott said the timing is not linked to any openings should Colorado and Colorado State be looking for a coach next spring.
“We didn’t think about that because he still could be taken away by one of those schools,” she said. “But we wanted to renew the contract so he’d know how committed we are to him. It also helps with recruiting.”
Softball added
McDermott, a former coach of the Metro State softball team, which was dropped because of budget cuts in 1991, announced the return of the NCAA-sanctioned program beginning with the 2007-08 school year. A search has begun for a coach who will begin recruiting immediately to compete in the RMAC, which has 10 softball programs.
Metro State’s club team, started in 2005 by student Kelly Jones, will continue next season.
With softball, there will be seven women’s sports at Metro State and six men’s sports.
