Fresno State extends Tarkanian's contract

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College basketball legend Jerry Tarkanian and California State University, Fresno have agreed to extend Tarkanian's contract to coach the Bulldog men's basketball team for the 1999-2000 season, Athletic Director Al Bohl announced recently.

"I know Coach Tarkanian will not be satisfied until he brings our basketball program to the level of success he believes it can achieve," Bohl said.

Tarkanian, a 1955 graduate of Fresno State, is the second all-time active winningest coach in NCAA history, with an .808 winning percentage at the major college level (710-169, 28 years), just behind Kansas coach Roy Williams (.809). He became only the 12th collegiate coach ever to reach 700 wins, topping 15th-ranked New Mexico earlier this year on national television. Tark's Bulldog teams have recorded four straight 20-win seasons ­ only the third time in Fresno State's basketball history the program has posted four consecutive 20-win seasons. Tark has won 85 games against 47 losses overall at Fresno State.

"This year, our Bulldogs brought a sense of pride and excitement to our community with great victories over top-notch competition," Bohl continued. "Tark's commitment to the university and to the valley is helping build interest in our on-campus events center."

The contract extension is for one year, until April 2000, but the contract states that both Tarkanian and the university anticipate an additional one-year extension until April 2001.

"Our team won 21 games this year, but I don't feel we have accomplished our goals just yet," Tarkanian said. "We want to get Fresno State to the NCAA Tournament and get the program back on track."