A long-term reward for Oregon’s program-changer.
As Oregon heads into their third straight NCAA Tournament, administration is trying to ensure that the program stays on an upward trajectory.
Oregon announced today that head coach Kelly Graves has agreed to the terms of a contract extension that would keep him in Eugene through the 2025-26 season. It is pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
As for Oregon, it’s a no-brainer to keep Graves in the fold as long as possible. After little success over the previous decade, the Ducks made a quick turnaround under Graves. They finished 13-17 his first season at the helm, then made an 11-game improvement his second year and made it to the WNIT semi-finals. By the third year, they were in the NCAA Tournament and breaking through to the first of three straight Elite Eight appearances.
“We love it here at the University of Oregon, and this is where I have wanted to coach for a long time,” Graves said in the University’s press release. “It means the world to our family that President (Michael) Schill and (University of Oregon Director of Athletics) Rob Mullens would offer a contract that essentially takes me through my coaching lifetime. This is a reflection of the commitment, hard work, and accomplishments of an incredible group of student-athletes as well as the most dedicated coaching staff a head coach could ever hope for. We are also so thankful for the passion and support of our Duck fans that make Matthew Knight Arena a tremendous home-court advantage.”
As for Oregon, it’s a no-brainer to keep Graves in the fold as long as possible. After little success over the previous decade, the Ducks made a quick turnaround under Graves. They finished 13-17 his first season at the helm, then made an 11-game improvement his second year and made it to the WNIT semi-finals. By the third year, they were in the NCAA Tournament and breaking through to the first of three straight Elite Eight appearances.
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In Mullens’ assessment, “The Oregon women’s basketball program has reached unprecedented heights under Kelly Graves. Kelly and his staff have elevated our program to one of the nation’s elite, consistently winning Pac-12 championships, ranking in the top ten in the country, and making a strong connection with our passionate fans.”
As a No. 2 seed for the second straight season, the Ducks hope to take the next step to a Final Four this year. They will start play in Eugene, and hope to move on to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in Portland.
The year before Graves arrived in Eugene, the Ducks finished 16-16 with a second-round loss in the WNIT. The program had not finished over .500 since the 2009-10 season, and hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2005.
Graves has coached seven All-Americans, including 2018 first-team honoree Sabrina Ionescu and honorable mention Ruthy Hebard.
Graves last signed a contract extension on April 6, 2017 that had him leading the Ducks through the 2022-23 season.
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