Jul 7, 2008 - 4:51 PM
0 shoutsSOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- Mike Brey wants to retire as Notre Dame basketball coach. On Monday, he took the next step toward realizing that goal.
Brey, who was named the Big East Conference Coach of the Year in each of the last two seasons, on Monday signed a two-year extension that will keep under contract with the Fighting Irish through the 2014-15 campaign.
"When I was named the head coach at Notre Dame my goal was to retire here," said Brey, who was at Delaware before taking the Notre Dame job in 2000. "I believe in the mission of this special place and it has been such a great fit for me and my family."
Entering his ninth year in South Bend, Brey has guided the Fighting Irish to a 167-86 (.662) mark and last season joined Lou Carnesecca of St. John's (1985-86) and P.J. Carlesimo of Seton Hall (1988-89) as the only mentors in league history to win coach of the year honors in consecutive seasons.
Notre Dame is coming off a 25-8 season - the third-highest win total in school history - and a program-best 14-4 mark in the Big East.
Brey had guided Notre Dame to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the "Sweet 16" in 2003.
He has coached two Big East Conference Players of the Year - Troy Murphy (2001) and Luke Harangody (2008).
"As his peers have acknowledged by selecting him coach of the year the past two seasons, Mike has built one of the top men's basketball programs in the Big East Conference," Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins said. "His quiet confidence and class are a perfect fit for Notre Dame, and I am sure that we'll enjoy more success in coming years."
Notre Dame enters next season having won 37 straight games at home, the second-longest current streak in the country. The Fighting Irish also have won 18 straight Big East contests at home, two shy of the league record held by Pittsburgh.
