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Dunlap signs five-year contract
June 2, 2006
By Jeremy Johnson
jjohn308@mscd.edu

Photo by Rachel Crick/crick@mscd.edu Coach Dunlap speaks to a crowd in The Nest at the Auraria Campus Event Center, May 31. Dunlap signed a new five-year contract worth $148,000 per year.

Metro men’s basketball head coach Mike Dunlap signed a new five-year contract Wednesday worth $148,000 per year according to Joan McDermott, the school’s athletic director.

The two-time Division II coach of the year had two years left on his previous contract, but was pleased with the commitment made by Metro president Stephen Jordan and the school’s athletic department.

“(The contract) allows us to concentrate on what we do and that is coaching and teaching,” Dunlap said.

The new contract will run through July 2011 and McDermott hopes Dunlap will stay with the program through that time and beyond.

“I think he could stay here forever and in many ways I think he will,” McDermott said. “For him to leave it would have to be the perfect job and that’s very hard to find.”

Dunlap has been a perfect fit in the Metro men’s basketball program. Along with coach of the year accolades, Dunlap has led the Roadrunners to nine consecutive NCAA Division II tournament appearances, with Metro winning the championship in 2000 and 2002. In his nine years as head coach, the ‘Runners have compiled an impressive 248-50 record.

“For us to solidify Mike’s continued leadership is really very important to the college and the athletic department,” Jordan said.

“He really is the lead for our athletic program and our coaches,” McDermott said. “He’s the model for what everyone else aspires to. He’s really the heart and soul of our program.”

The new contract includes many incentives for Dunlap concerning the team’s record on the hardwood and their accomplishments in the classroom. The already heavily motivated coach will receive bonuses for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships, North Central Region championships and the coveted NCAA Division II championship.

Academic incentives are also likely for Dunlap since his team has had a perfect graduation rate over the last three years.

Dunlap has proven to be an adept recruiter and will need to be so again this upcoming year as the Roadrunners lost four seniors to graduation, including Drew Williamson, who led the team in ppg (16.6) and steals (114).

“We had nine players last year and we made the NCAA tournament with that kind of turnover,” Dunlap said. “With a little bit of luck we’ll be in a similar situation but we’d like to go a little deeper into the tournament if we can.”

With a little luck and a lot of incentive, Dunlap’s team looks primed to do just that.

“I played for coach Dunlap and I’ve been with him for a very long time and it’s good to know the head coach has some security,” assistant coach Brannon Hays said. “We’re very excited about the contract."