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KALAMAZOO - Western Michigan director of athletics Kathy Beauregard announced today that men’s basketball head coach Steve Hawkins has been awarded a new, incentive-laden, five-year contract that will begin with the 2008-09 campaign and keep him in charge of the Broncos through the 2012-13 season.

The deal guarantees Hawkins $246,000 per year, of which $191,000 is base salary covered by University funds and the remainder is compensation for radio, television and public appearances and speaking engagements, which will be provided through funds raised by the athletic department.

The remainder of the contract is incentive-based with regards to academic and on-court success. As with the speaking engagement and public appearance fees, these compensations will be covered solely through external funding.

Many incentives deal with Mid-American Conference divisional and overall titles as well as increasing levels of compensation for achieving a predetermined level of wins during the regular season. Academics are a major component in this contract, which shows the importance of a high team grade point average to the basketball program.

“I’m elated with the confidence President (John) Dunn and Kathy Beauregard have shown in me with this new contract,” Hawkins said. “While I am proud of our past successes, I am excited about the future and the opportunity to continue to build and improve upon those successes.

“Just as important to me is that this contract will allow me to stay in Kalamazoo, an area I’ve grown to love and I’ll be able to continue my work in this community.”

“This is a special time in Bronco basketball history with this long-term commitment from both Coach Hawkins and the University,” Beauregard said. “Coach Hawkins and his student-athletes have been tremendous ambassadors for Western Michigan University and that is a testament to his dedication to his team. He is concerned with more than just coaching basketball players, but developing young men with high integrity and strong moral and ethical convictions.

“Coach Hawkins and Western Michigan are the perfect fit and I couldn’t be more excited about the future of our men’s basketball program being led by a successful, caring, motivated and nationally-respected head coach like Steve Hawkins.”

Hawkins just completed his fifth year in Kalamazoo as he guided the Broncos to a 20-12 season and the MAC West Division title with a 12-4 mark.

courtesy Western Michigan Athletic Communications