VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott announced Thursday that men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey has received a two-year contraction extension. Dempsey's extension will carry him through the 2018-19 season. He originally signed a five-year deal when he arrived to campus in 2012 and had two years remaining on that contract.


"Tommy has done a great job building a strong foundation for the future success of our program," Elliott said. "I believe that it is important to ensure stability and continuity as we move forward over the next several years. With quality student athletes, a dedicated staff and our loyal fans, I am excited as our program takes the next steps forward."


Despite fielding the youngest team in the nation in 2014-15 (Statsheet.com), Dempsey's Bearcats achieved the program's highest America East win total in five years. Binghamton earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament and pushed eventual runnerup Stony Brook to the final minute in a 62-57 road loss. The Bearcats played six games against 2015 NCAA tournament teams.


"I am grateful to work for an administration that believes in our process," Dempsey said. "We are working hard to build a program that the University, alumni and community can be proud of. I'm looking forward to being the leader of this program for many years."


Anchored by back-to-back accomplished recruiting classes, Binghamton is poised to continue its push upward in the America East standings. In the last two years, seven different players have earned Rookie of the Week honors – the most in the conference during any two-year span. Binghamton was one of just three teams across the country whose top two scorers were freshmen (Willie Rodriguez and Romello Walker). Binghamton was the only team in the country whose top three scorers all were freshmen when including freshman forward Dusan Perovic, whose season was cut short after 15 games due to injury. Rodriguez was selected to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2014-15 – the third straight year one of Dempsey's freshmen earned the honor.



TRANSACTION - Binghamton University (N.Y.) extended the contract of men's basketball coach Tommy Dempsey through the 2018-19 season.


(Courtesy: BU Athletics)