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Siena extends head coach Jimmy Patsos’ contract through 2019

Jimmy Patsos

Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis in Kissimmee, Fla., Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

AP

The feeling when Siena announced the hiring of Jimmy Patsos last spring was that it wouldn’t be long before the former Loyola (Md.) head coach turned the program around. In his first season at the helm Patsos led the Saints to an 11-9 record in MAAC play, 20 wins overall and the CBI championship.

As a result the school announced Wednesday that Patsos has been rewarded with an extension through the 2018-19 season. The deal adds a year to his original contract, and according to the school the financial terms (which weren’t released) will not change.

“The turnaround of our team both in terms of on-court success and talent level happened much more quickly than we thought it would,” vice president and director of athletics John D’Argenio said. “That is a testament to coach Patsos’ ability to recruit quality student athletes and teach and motivate young men to realize their potential. We decided at the end of the season to add one more year to Jimmy’s current contract.”

Siena improved its win total by 12 games in 2013-14, and given the amount of talent returning for the 2014-15 campaign there’s optimism regarding the Saints’ chances of continuing their climb up the MAAC standings. Siena’s top five scorers from last year’s team will return, led by guard Rob Poole (14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and forward Brett Bisping (11.5, 6.5).

Last year’s team also featured two MAAC All-Rookie Team selections in guard Marquis Wright and wing Lavon Long, with this being the first time that Siena has placed two players on that particular squad. Both Wright and Long return as well for a team that will have three seniors (Poole, guard Evan Hymes and forward Imoh Silas) and two scholarship juniors (Bisping and forward Ryan Oliver) in 2014-15.

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