Purdue women’s basketball head coach Sharon Versyp received a six-year contract extension from athletics director Morgan Burke on Monday, securing her tenure with the Boilermakers through the 2021-22 season. In 10 years with her alma mater, Versyp has earned a program-record 214 wins, advancing to eight NCAA Tournaments and winning four Big Ten Tournament titles.
“This contract provides our women’s basketball program with the stability it needs to maintain success and continue its rich tradition,” Burke said. “It recognizes the talented roster that Coach Versyp and her staff are returning this fall, and pays credit to the outstanding young women that will join the Boilermakers for the 2016-17 season.”
It is the sixth contract extension for Versyp, who returned to her alma mater in 2006, and is now tied for the longest tenure of any head coach in program history with Dr. Ruth Jones (1977-86). She has hit a bevy of career milestones with the Boilermakers, including the all-time coaching wins record in a 63-53 Barn Burner Trophy victory over Indiana in 2016, and career win No. 300 in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. She has guided the Old Gold and Black to a pair of Elite Eights, two Sweet 16’s and seven 20-win seasons.
“It’s exciting to know Purdue’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach is committed to Purdue and our basketball student-athletes through 2022,” said Purdue associate athletics director and senior woman administrator Nancy Cross, who also serves as the sport administrator for women’s basketball. “Sharon’s unwavering dedication to the total development of our young women reinforces Purdue’s core values of academic success, leadership and Big Ten and NCAA championships. With her expertise, not only will current and future Boilermaker basketball players benefit, but so will Purdue’s loyal fans and supporters.”
Nine of Versyp’s 10 signing classes have been ranked in the top 25, including the 2015 group that was ranked eighth nationally by ESPNW Hoopgurlz and tops in the Big Ten. Eight of her nine recruiting classes at Purdue have earned recognition inside the top 15, while four have been ranked in the top 10, including the Class of 2010, which was tabbed sixth nationally.
Versyp has guided 27 players to All-Big Ten accolades at Purdue, including four first-team selections, and three Boilermakers have been recognized with All-America honors. Equally impressive to the on-court awards are the team’s academic achievements under Versyp’s guidance. The Boilermakers have earned 42 Academic All-Big Ten honors during her tenure, including recent three-time honorees Hayden Hamby, Chelsea Jones, Drey Mingo and Courtney Moses.
“I would like to express the utmost gratitude to the university and our administration for their faith in me and my staff,” Versyp said. “It has been an incredible journey to lead my alma mater for the last 10 seasons, and I’m thankful for the opportunity and confidence to lead this program for many years to come.
“My staff and I have worked extremely hard to bring outstanding young women into the Purdue women’s basketball family, and to help them achieve great things, both on and off the court. We have a championship mentality in all walks of life, working to be great examples of everything Purdue stands for and has to offer the world.”
Versyp and her staff are set to begin her 11th season with the Boilermakers in 2016-17, where they will open the season at the University of Maine with a four-team tournament Nov. 11. Versyp had her first collegiate head coaching with the Black Bears from 2000 to 2005, winning a trio of America East titles and advancing to the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/060616aaa.html
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