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Miami signs Jim Larrañaga to two-year extension
Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga. Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Miami signs HC Jim Larrañaga to two-year contract extension

USC wasn't the only prominent men's basketball program to sign their head coach to a contract extension on Wednesday.

The announcement comes as the fourth-seeded Hurricanes prepare to take on the winner of No. 5 Wake Forest vs. No. 13 Boston College in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Demon Deacons and Eagles are playing their first-round game on Wednesday afternoon.

Following 10 seasons at the helm for Bowling Green State from 1986-97 and 14 years as the main man for George Mason (1997-2011), Larrañaga joined Miami ahead of the 2011-12 campaign. Now in his 11th year with the Hurricanes, the 72-year-old has led the program to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive showings from 2016 to 2018, and is the winningest coach in team history.

"I’d like to thank President Frenk and Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich for their belief and trust in me. I’m honored and humbled by the University of Miami’s amazing continued support of me, my players and my staff," Larrañaga said. "This extension is truly about all of us associated with the program and what we have accomplished together. I love working at Miami and this city has truly become home for me and my wife, Liz. I’m incredibly excited to continue coaching here at The U and look forward to leading the program to more memorable moments in the future."

While Miami had regressed and finished under .500 in each of the last three seasons, Larrañaga got them back on track this winter by way of a 22-9 overall record and 14-6 mark in the ACC. The former Providence guard and sixth-round draft choice of the Detroit Pistons has a career 664-448 coaching record, finding the most success with the Patriots.

Larrañaga helped lead George Mason to five appearances in the "Big Dance", including a stunning run to the Final Four in 2006 as an 11-seed. During the Cinderella run, the Patriots knocked off No. 6 Michigan St., No. 3 North Carolina, No. 7 Wichita St. and top-seeded UConn before falling to No. 3 Florida in the national semifinal.

The Bronx, NY native captured ACC Coach of the Year awards following the 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons and was named the AP Coach of the Year after the 2012-13 campaign. According to miamihurricanes.com, Larrañaga is the only coach in NCAA history to win 100-plus league games at three different schools or in three different conferences.

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