RICHMOND, Ky. — New Eastern Kentucky Director of Athletics Matt Roan announced Thursday that he's signed basketball coach A.W. Hamilton to a contract extension taking him through the 2023-'24 season.
Hamilton was the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Colonels to a fourth place finish n the league with a 12-6 record. EKU’s 12 conference wins this season are tied for the second-most in program history. The 2019-20 Colonels are one of only four EKU teams ever to win 12 or more OVC games, joining the 1964-65 (13), 2006-07 (13) and 2012-13 (12) squads. Their 9-2 league start was the best in 41 years.
There was reaction from both sides in the EKU release. “In two short years, A.W. has done a phenomenal job returning our men’s basketball program back among the best in the OVC. Having worked together previously and knowing him before I arrived, this is not at all surprising” Roan said. “He has engaged and energized our fan base and he and his family have immersed themselves fully into the Richmond and EKU communities. He recruits high-quality, high-potential student-athletes and he has surrounded himself with exceptional assistant coaches who support one another and develop the young men in the program. I am fired up to watch the growth and success of A.W. and EKUHoops for years to come.”
“I want to thank EKU Chair Lewis Diaz, Interim President David McFaddin and Director of Athletics Matt Roan for the faith and support they are placing in me with this extension,” Hamilton said. “It is a blessing to be around and work with three people who have an outstanding love and passion for this university. The trust and belief they have in me has allowed me the freedom and security to build not only a great team, but a championship level program.”
