Coach hopes contract extension brings faith

Two more years simply weren’t enough for IU Coach Felisha Legette-Jack. She wanted to keep the cream and crimson on for a little bit longer.

IU Athletics Director Fred Glass announced in July that the women’s basketball head coach agreed to a contract extension for an additional two seasons.

Legette-Jack’s original contract was scheduled to conclude at the end of the 2012-2013 season.

The extension, however, will keep her at IU at least through the 2014-2015 school year.

“I couldn’t be more pleased that Felisha has agreed to this new contract with its extended terms,” Glass said in a press release. “I have a high degree of confidence in her ability to succeed here, and I believe that this will simply be the first of many extensions we sign together.”

In addition to a longer stay, the extension also raises Legette-Jack’s compensation.

Each year, her base salary will be raised by $5,000, and she will receive an additional $5,000 per year for marketing income, the same as in her previous contract.

Legette-Jack led the Hoosiers to a post-season birth in her first three years at IU and led the team to 21 wins in the 2008-2009 season. After compiling 14 and nine wins in her last two seasons, respectively, Legette-Jack said she believes that her added time will help build the program back up.

“When you’re trying to change the culture and build that foundation, there’s going to be some valleys and there’s going to be some opportunities there for success,” Legette-Jack said. “It was real neat to know that we’re real serious about our women’s program, and our administration understands that it’s just going to take a while to change the culture. It’s on its way. ... The wins are going to come.”

She said she is also excited for the potential recruiting power the extension brings.

“I think the recruits really are into that, knowing that the person that recruited them is going to be their coach,” she said.

Legette-Jack has also led her student athletes to off-court success. During her tenure as IU’s head coach, 21 of her players have received Academic All-Big Ten honors, including six last year. In 2009, Whitney Thomas won the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the first time an IU women’s basketball player has received it.

“If you’re here for a day or two days, a year or ten, I think it’s your obligation as a leader to make certain that these student athletes recognize student is first,” Legette-Jack said.

Despite her accomplishments, Legette-Jack said she is always looking to improve and hopes this opportunity allows her to continue growing.

She said she knows even with an extension, nothing is guaranteed, so she must continue working hard while she is here.

“If they don’t want me here, then I’ll walk away,” she said. “But in the meantime, I’ve got some work to do.”