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Gary Waters signs 7-year extension from Cleveland State

Cleveland State men's basketball coach Gary Waters has guided the Vikings to an unprecedented amount of success in the program's history. On Thursday, he was rewarded for his efforts with a seven-year contract extension.

Charles Leclaire-US PRESSWIRE

Cleveland State Vikings head coach Gary Waters has signed a seven-year contract extension, the school announced on Thursday. The deal is good through the 2018-19 season.

Waters became Cleveland State's head coach after the 2005-2006 season, in which the Vikings finished 10-18. Waters' first year on the job wasn't much better, leading the team to a 10-21 record. However, the program came back strong in the following season, winning 21 games and earning a berth to the postseason NIT. In 2008-09, the Vikings hit the jackpot, winning 26 games and getting an invite to the NCAA Tournament. In the first round, they stunned fourth-seeded Wake Forest, 84-69 before succumbing to Arizona in the second round.

Since then, Waters has guided the Vikings to two more 20-win seasons, including a 27-win campaign in 2010-11, which is second-most in school history.

The Vikings are set to kickoff the 2012-13 season on Friday night against Grambling. After that, they'll enter preseason NIT play, taking on Bowling Green on Nov. 12 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.