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LOGAN, Utah - Utah State University athletics director Scott Barnes announced Tuesday that men's basketball coach Stew Morrill has signed a new contract that will keep him as the Aggies head coach through the 2014-15 season.
"Stew has built one of the most successful programs in the country and has done a remarkable job in sustaining that success over time," said Barnes. "Stew is highly respected nationally by his coaching peers and his exceptional ability to recruit and develop our student-athletes is evident in the success they have had both on the court and in the classroom. I look forward to Stew's continued leadership of our program for many years to come."
During his 10 years at Utah State, Morrill has guided the Aggies to an incredible 237-86 (.734) record, which includes a 124-44 (.738) league mark in the Big West and Western Athletic Conferences and an 18-6 (.750) record in conference tournaments. During his tenure as Aggie head coach, he has led Utah State to four conference tournament championships and four regular season titles, including its first-ever WAC Championship in 2008 as USU finished league play with a 12-4 record.
Also in 2008, Morrill passed the legendary E. Lowell Romney's record of 225 wins to became the school's winningest basketball coach as the Aggies defeated Boise State, 82-78, on Jan. 17 in Logan.
"It's been a privilege to coach basketball at Utah State for the past 10 years and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead ," Morrill stated. "Thanks to President Stan Albrecht and Athletics Director Scott Barnes for the confidence shown and security given with this new contract.
"Also, many thanks to Aggie Basketball fans for the passion and support that has been and will continue to be so important to our program."
Morrill has led Utah State to nine straight 23-win seasons and nine straight postseason appearances (5-NCAA, 4-NIT), both of which are school records. The previous school record for 20-win seasons and consecutive postseason appearances was three set in the early 1960s. In the last nine years, Utah State owns the fifth-best winning percentage in the nation at 75.3 percent (222-73), and is one of just three school's across the country to notch nine straight 23-win seasons along with Gonzaga and Kansas.
Utah State's accomplishments on the court under Morrill has translated into 10 of his players being named first-team all-conference a total of 15 times, including at least one first-team all-league player in each of the last nine seasons. He also coached the WAC's 2008 Player of the Year in Jaycee Carroll who shattered the school's all-time scoring record and finished with 2,522 career points.
Along with all of its success on the court, Utah State has been just as successful in the classroom under Morrill as nearly 85 percent of his players have received degrees from USU. Morrill also had four players earn academic all-WAC honors in 2008 and Aggie players have earned a total of 16 academic all-conference honors during his 10 years at the helm.
In 22 years of collegiate coaching, Morrill owns a 455-224 (.670) record. He was 97-52 (.651) in five years at Montana (1987-91), 121-86 (.585) in seven years at Colorado State (1992-98), and is 237-86 (.734) in 10 years at Utah State (1999-2008).
Among active coaches at the Division I level, Morrill ranks 22nd all-time in victories (455) and 27th in winning percentage (.670), while his current streak of nine straight 20-win seasons is tied for the eighth-longest in the nation.
