OXFORD, OH — Miami University will extend the contract of head basketball coach Charlie Coles, Miami Director of Athletics Brad Bates announced today. Coles and Miami have agreed to a three-year contract extension.
“We are very excited to have Charlie continue to lead our program,” said Bates. “His experience, intellect, passion, wit, pedagogy and charm inspire those of us fortunate to interact with him regularly. With two championships in the past five seasons, Charlie is clearly fulfilling our mission as he develops champions with love and honor as his students-athletes leave Miami University with prestigious degrees and championship jewelry.”
“I just love coaching basketball. It’s been my whole life,” said Coles. “I thought I could walk away after this year, but I found out that I just couldn’t. I love doing what I’m doing, so to be able to continue coaching is a dream come true.”
Coles has guided the RedHawks for 13 seasons and owns the most wins of any coach in program history with a 224-168 record. In 19 seasons as a head coach in the Mid-American Conference, including six years as the head coach at Central Michigan University, Coles has compiled an overall career record of 316-252 and a career conference record of 193-132. His 193 MAC wins rank second to former Toledo head coach Bob Nichols’ 194 league triumphs.
Under Coles, Miami set a MAC record for consecutive MAC Tournament championships game appearances with five straight from 1997 to 2001. Twice Coles had guide Miami to the tournament title (1997 and 2007), while capturing the MAC regular-season crown three times (1997, 1999 and 2005). The RedHawks have finished among the MAC’s top four teams to earn first-round tournament byes five of the last six seasons.
During Coles’ tenure, six teams have advanced to postseason play—NCAA 1997, 1999, 2007; NIT 2005, 2006; CBI 2008—and Coles has mentored 18 players who have garnered 27 all-MAC awards, including nine first-team honorees. Over the past six seasons, Miami has had six players capture seven first-team all-MAC honors and is the only MAC school to have at least one first-team honoree each of the last six years.
Two of the five Miami players to earn MAC Player of the Year plaudits have been mentored by Coles with Wally Szczerbiak being a unanimous selection in 1999 and Michael Bramos earning the distinction this season. Coles, who turned 67 in February 2009, was tabbed MAC Coach of the Year in 1987 while at Central Michigan and again in 2005 after leading Miami to a regular-season title.
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