Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State University Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston announced Thursday, Apr. 24 that he and head women's basketball coach Darin Spence have come to terms on a new three-year contract that includes incentives to earn a fourth year.
Spence's new deal increases his salary from last season by 10 percent effective July 1 with competitive incentives built in to reward team and academic success. In order to earn a fourth season on the contract, Spence's Aggies must accomplish one of the following in the 2008-09 basketball season: finish first, second or third in the WAC regular season standings, win the WAC Tournament, reach the WNIT, or win at least 17 games.
Several bonuses are available for Spence that would reward him for winning the WAC regular season title, winning the WAC Tournament, having a good APR standing, a good team GPA and if the Aggies make the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm pleased to announce the extension of coach Spence's contract," Dr. Boston said. "I'm very proud of the team's performance last year and I'm looking forward to the continued success."
"I'm really pleased to receive this extension and am looking forward to continuing to build our program to be one of the finest in the WAC," Spence said. "My family and I really enjoy the community and I can't wait to start next season already."
Spence has been the Aggies' coach for the past five seasons and is tied for third in program history with Joe McKeown as the third winningest coach with 68 career victories. He has led the Aggies to the WAC Tournament championship game in each of the past three seasons and in the process NMSU has become just one of three teams (joining Utah and Louisiana Tech) to appear in three-straight title games in the history of the conference's tournament.
This past season Spence led New Mexico State to 23-9 record and the 23 wins tied for the third most in program history. NMSU's nine and a half game improvement from the 2006-07 season to the 2007-08 year (10 more wins and nine fewer losses) tied for the fifth best turnaround in the nation.
Sherell Neal was named to the First Team All-WAC under his guidance while Anikia Jawara was a second team selection and his point guard and daughter Madison Spence earned a bid on the WAC's All-Freshman Team.
Despite losing five seniors from last season's team, the Aggies return a talented group that includes three seniors to be, one junior, and four sophomores.
