Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- University of Delaware Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson has announced that Blue Hen men’s basketball head coach Monté Ross has received a contract extension through the 2014-15 season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Ross recently completed his third year at Delaware, and has compiled a 32-62 career mark in Newark. He guided a young squad to a 5-26 record during his first season in 2006-07, but led the Blue Hens to a nine-win improvement in his second year, as Delaware went 14-17 and finished seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 9-9 league mark.

UD, which was the second most improved squad in the league in 2007-08, began its conference season 5-0 and knocked off long-time rival Drexel, 60-51, in the first round of the CAA Tournament. Leading the Blue Hens were All-CAA forwards Herb Courtney and Marc Egerson, along with CAA All-Rookie pick Alphonso Dawson.

This season Delaware went 13-19 overall and 6-12 in the conference, but the year included impressive home victories over league champion VCU and George Mason. The Blue Hens also posted an overtime win over Drexel, while Egerson was named first team all-conference and all-district.

Prior to arriving in Newark, Ross was an assistant at Saint Joseph’s University for 10 seasons, leading the Hawks to six NCAA Tournament appearances, three NIT appearances, and a spot in the NCAA Elite Eight in 2004. During his 13 seasons as an assistant, Ross helped lead teams to seven campaigns of 20 or more victories, a winning percentage of .650, and five conference championships.