April 3, 1997
Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell has signed a seven-year contract extension to remain as athletic director and head coach of the Eagle basketball program.Mitchell, who had one year remaining on his contract, inked a deal equal to his current salary of $100,000 annually, with incentives and rollover clause giving him the option to renew each year. He had been mentioned as a candidate for several head coaching vacancies following a very successful season.
"I'm happy here," said Mitchell, who took over as athletic director in addition to his coaching duties last July. "Even though I probably could have put out some feelers after the success we had this season, I just think that Coppin is a great situation."
"(Coppin State President) Dr. (Calvin) Burnett and the entire Coppin family have been very good to me and very supportive of what we're trying to accomplish, and that is to continue to build a quality (NCAA) Division I athletic program and develop quality student-athletes. Loyalty is important to me."
"I've always said 'Why can't Coppin be a big-time school?'. I think we took steps toward that this year, but the job is not finished."
Mitchell guided the Eagles to a 22-9 record this season, including a 78-65 victory over sixth-ranked South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The win gave the Eagles and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference its first-ever win in an NCAA Tourney game.
Coppin was also the first Baltimore school to accomplish the feat and only the third no.15 seed to record a win. The Eagles nearly upset Texas in the second round of the tournament, losing by one pont after the Longhorns thwarted a last-second shot attempt by stealing the inbounds pass.
Mitchell collected his 200th career win at Coppin this year and with a 205-120 mark in 11 seasons, he is only seven victories shy of becoming the Eagles' all-time winningest coach. The Eagles have recorded five 20-win seasons during his tenure and have won five straight and seven of the last eight MEAC regular-season titles.
The Philadelphis native has led his teams to postseason play in five of the last eight years, including three NCAA Tournament berths.
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