Muffet McGraw, the architect of one of the greatest NCAA women’s basketball programs during the past quarter-century and a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, has signed a landmark contract extension that will keep her firmly at the helm of the Notre Dame women’s basketball program through the 2021-22 season. The 10-year extension, which is believed to be one of the longest contract agreements in NCAA women’s basketball history, was announced Monday by Notre Dame vice president and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick.
The 2001 consensus National Coach of the Year and a five-time National Coach of the Year finalist, McGraw has compiled a sparkling 679-256 (.726) record in 30 seasons as a head coach, including a 591-215 (.733) record during her 25-year career at Notre Dame, placing her as the second-winningest coach (in any sport) in the 125-year history of Fighting Irish athletics. She currently ranks eighth among all active NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches, and 14th all-time in Division I, for career victories, while also placing 13th among active coaches (across all three NCAA divisions), and 20th all-time (for all divisions), in that category. In addition, she is 17th among active Division I coaches, and 20th all-time, for career winning percentage, as well as seventh among active Division I coaches, and ninth all-time with 24 20-win seasons (the latter count including 22 20-win, nine 25-win and four 30-win campaigns at Notre Dame).
When it comes to postseason play, McGraw is among the very best to ever walk a college sideline. The longtime Fighting Irish coach has led Notre Dame to the 2001 NCAA national championship, along with three appearances in the NCAA national championship game (1997, 2011, 2012) and four trips to the NCAA Women’s Final Four (1997, 2001, 2011, 2012). McGraw is one of just three active Division I coaches (and seven all-time) to guide her teams to at least three NCAA national championship games, and she is part of an elite group of five active Division I coaches (and eight all-time) to make four NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
