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Posted on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 12:11 p.m.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein signs contract extension through 2015-16

By Michael Rothstein

At every Division I job he has had, Michigan coach John Beilein has stayed for exactly five years before moving on.

Now, Beilein, in his third season at Michigan, may have found a home. He agreed to a contract extension through the 2015-16 season, and outgoing athletic director Bill Martin said in a statement on Monday that Beilein has said he’d like to retire at Michigan.

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Michigan basketball coach John Beilein has agreed to a contract extension with the school. (Photo: Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)

Michigan is Beilein’s fourth Division I stop, after stints at Canisius, Richmond and West Virginia.

"I've been a coaching nomad for quite a few years," Beilein said. "And Michigan is a place that I want to coach and bring back to the top of the Big Ten.

"It's the only place I want to coach at."

Beilein, a 57-year-old native of Burt, N.Y., said he began discussions with Martin about a contract extension after last season. When the contract expires, Beilein - who turns 58 on Feb. 5 - would be 63 years old.

“What he has done on and off the court with our men’s basketball team has been tremendous, and he has made it clear he wants to coach at Michigan until he retires,” Martin said in a statement. “This contract extension is a win-win situation for the men’s basketball program at Michigan and for coach Beilein.”

Beilein will be paid $1.7 million in 2010-11, $1.8 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13 and then $1.9 million in 2013-14, '14-'15 and '15-'16.

In all, Beilein stands to make $12.7 million dollars throughout the rest of his contract, an average of $1,814,286 a year.

In three seasons at Michigan, Beilein is 39-43. After taking the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament last year and having his team ranked in the Top 15 to start the season, Michigan is 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten.

  • Great move that sets up Michigan for long-term success
  • Fine, but NCAA tournament-caliber teams are expected, too
  • Bad move. I'm not convinced Michigan's program is improving
  • Undecided

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Comments

A2lover

Tue, Jan 12, 2010 : 7:20 a.m.

So the egotistical Mr. Martin, combined with the arrogant University administration, continues to wreak havoc on U of M sports. Beilein does not deserve a contract extension (no more than RR deserves to be football coach) but Mr. Martin, instead of stepping way when Brandon was elected AD, sneaks in a contract extension for one of the incompetent coaches he hired on his watch. The blind ignorance and arrogance of the U of M administration continues to amaze. The Provost is now leaving to become President elsewhere, but not before she and Mary Sue Coleman endorsed an incompetent Dean who was ranked at the bottom of faculty evaluations for 3 years, so the arrogance does not stop in the athletic department.

aarox

Tue, Jan 12, 2010 : 12:38 a.m.

ick! I take a seven year contract in any college sport means that the brass is very happy with the performance of the team. Seven! I think we as fans get to share the blame for this. I knew too many of us that blew off basketball 10 years ago and told their friends at the watercooler that football was the only sport that mattered. Now that we don't have a football team anymore, we're looking for something else to regain our sense of mission. Shame on us for taking our eye off the roundball and letting this happen.

James

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 9:43 p.m.

Wow..we lose to teams like Northwestern, and Harvard. Why the extension again? Sims and Harris were not recruited by Beilein. He hasnt recruited any players that will make a difference in the next couple years. His style is to shoot 30 foot three pointers(Michigan is shooting less than 30 percent from the 3 point line by the way)even worse on the road. Michigan gets out rebounded every game and no points from the free throw line. What happens when Sims and Harris leaves this year for the NBA. Michigan will be bad the next couple years, lucky if they go to the NIT. Im not buying Beilein's talk, its plenty of talent in Michigan. Please recruit something other than shooters...ie rebounds, slashers, and maybe a true point guard.

IoniaDawg

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 8:57 p.m.

I think this should have been left up to Brandon. I always thought you rewarded results and I am not seeing much of an improvement with this team. Without an inside presence, this team will not win consistently. I hope there are some big men on the horizon because you can't win with a jump shooting team that plays soft defense.

guns4me

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 8:49 p.m.

Great move WEST ARBOR!!

KeepingItReal

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.

You think Mr. Martin cares what you or I or for that matter anyone else thinks about his decisions regarding the athletic program? Obviously, Coach Beilein is someone that he supports regardless. Michigan was lucky to make it to the NCAA tournament last year, will not make it this year or in the forseable future. I'm still trying to figure what Coach Beilein's appeal is as a coach.

azwolverine

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 7:42 p.m.

I think the timing is odd just in the fact that Martin is a lame-duck AD. I think any extension should have been made by Brandon after he has fully evaluated the program and it's direction AFTER this season.

Macabre Sunset

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 3:52 p.m.

The timing of this seems odd. I would have waited to see if he can coach his way out of the current regression. A team with Sims and Harris as veteran leaders should not be struggling as badly as it has the first half of this season.

BlueInBama

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 3:46 p.m.

What a bone-headed mistake. Who in the hell is calling the shots in AA these days? Beilein's teams are not hard to figure out for opposing coaches... just take a look at this season thus far! No big men + inconsistent play = mediocrity for the rest of Beilein's tenure.

daveM

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 3:17 p.m.

There is no question that Beilin is a great improvement over Amaker but the jury is still out regarding his ability to get Michigan to national power status. It would seem logicle to let consideration of a contract extension be handled by the incoming Athletic Director, once he has looked into Belein's proformance thus far. Bill Martin has made some appointments that have not produced desired results, e.g. Amaker, his 1st choice for women's Bball coach, and, of course, the current football coach who probably is the most questioned move of all.

aareader

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 1:11 p.m.

I think this is a good decision. It takes an unneeded uncertainty out of the Basketball Program. If John Beilien has a great finish everyone will say great move. If the program does not improve there are always remedies. BTW Bill Martin IS the AD for now and these decisions are his.

InRichRodWeTrust

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.

GREAT MOVE!!! If bielien can get mountainers to the elite 8, he can surely get Michigan much farther. In 2 years they will hav a juniors in Morris and Vogrich which both have a lot of potensial,plus Novak will be a great leader. We will also have a better post presecence and Hardaway.

Sarcastic1

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 11:41 a.m.

Obviously, this was done before the Northwestern game.

XTR

Mon, Jan 11, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.

This is a "midnight appointment" deal by Bill Martin. Beilein is a good coach but will not be a championship coach. The program after 3 years has become stale like Amakers. Talent underachieves. If Beilein stays for 6 more years, then expect the same results as he does not recruit great players and does not coach well during games.