The University of Michigan and women’s basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico have agreed to a three-year contract extension, interim Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Jim Hackett announced on Monday (Sept. 28). The extension will keep Barnes Arico at Michigan through the 2020-21 season.
“When I came to Michigan three years ago, I really believed it was a place my family and I would be at for a long time,” Barnes Arico said. “I left a top 20 program and the region I grew up in because I believed in the vision of Michigan, everything it has to offer its student-athletes and its commitment to excellence. It has been such a privilege to work at the best university in the world, where I am surrounded by greatness each and every day. My time here so far has been tremendous and I have received an incredible amount of support from the University, the community and athletic department.”
“I know what an outstanding coach we have in Kim and I’m thrilled to get this extension in place,” said Hackett. “Kim has done a fantastic job of developing students both academically and athletically.”
Barnes Arico has sent two graduates to professional basketball careers in Nya Jordan (2010-13) and Cyesha Goree (2012-15). Kate Thompson (2010-13) is currently enrolled in the University of Michigan medical school, while 2015 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner Nicole Elmblad (2012-15) is heading to medical school next academic year after a year of research at the U-M Hospital. Barnes Arico has coached three Academic All-District honorees, a two-time Academic All-American and 12 Academic All-Big Ten recipients.
In three seasons, Barnes Arico has a 62-40 record and is the only coach in program history to record three 20-win seasons. She already ranks fifth all-time in total wins and first in winning percentage (.608). U-M has reached the postseason in all three of Barnes Arico’s seasons, highlighted by a 2013 NCAA Tournament second round appearance and a 2015 WNIT semifinals berth. She has coached 11 All-Big Ten performers, including the 2015 Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year in Katelynn Flaherty.
The terms of the contract call for Barnes Arico to earn a base salary of $360,000 with additional opportunities for supplemental pay based on a range of performance measures from winning the Big Ten regular-season championship to winning a national championship.
In her first season (2012-13), Barnes Arico tied the school record for wins (22), consecutive wins (10) and returned the Wolverines to the Associated Press poll for the first time since 2001, ranking as high as No. 22. In 2013-14, she took a team that returned only 11 percent of its scoring and went 20-14, making the third round of the WNIT. This past season (2014-15), U-M swept Michigan State in the regular season for the first time since the 1999-2000 season and set school records for points (2,446), assists (570) and home wins (14) en route to a 20-15 mark.
Dating back to her time at St. John’s, she has recorded six straight 20-win campaigns and reached the postseason in each of the last eight seasons. Barnes Arico was named the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan’s College Coach of the Year following the 2014-15 season.
She has also served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball the past two summers, most recently helping the Red, White and Blue to a gold medal at the U19 FIBA World Championship in July.
The Wolverines kick off the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game at home against Ferris State on Nov. 8. The regular season begins on Nov. 15 when Binghamton comes to Crisler Center at noon. U-M returns its leading scorer from last season in Flaherty (14.3 ppg) and a pair of starters in Siera Thompson (10.9 ppg) and Danielle Williams (39 steals, 2.4 rpg).
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/092815aab.html
Photo Courtesy Michigan Athletics
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