Nicholls State, Piper agree to contract extension

Aug 3, 2011 - 1:26 AM Thibodaux, LA (Sports Network) - Nicholls State University announced head basketball coach J.P. Piper agreed to a three-year extension Tuesday.

It is the first multi-year deal in the University's history and it will keep Piper with the Colonels through the 2013-14 season.

Last season, Piper led Nicholls State to its third consecutive Southland Conference Tournament, tying a school record, after the Colonels finished with a 14-14 record, including an 8-8 mark in conference play.

"We want stability, consistency and competitiveness from our head coaches," Nicholls athletics director Rob Bernardi said. "Clearly, J.P. has demonstrated those qualities in his coaching style and the play of his teams. We are confident that our basketball program will continue to progress under his leadership."

Piper came to Nicholls State in 2002 as an assistant after spending eight years as the head coach at The Dunham School in Baton Rouge. There he guided the Tigers to a Class A State Championship (1997-98), a Class A State Runner-Up (1998-1999) and grabbed the Class A Coach of the Year (1999). Piper was also selected to be the head coach of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association East All-Star Team in 1999.

He took over the head coaching job in 2004 after former coach, Ricky Blanton, resigned.