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Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton signs contract extension through 2019-20

By Chris Stone

Mar 15, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton addresses the media during a press conference prior to the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton addresses the media during a press conference prior to the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Leonard Hamilton will be in Tallahassee for a bit longer

Florida State University has extended the contract of men’s head basketball coach Leonard Hamilton through the 2019-20 season, the school announced on Thursday. Hamilton’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Seminoles made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed this year, but were knocked out in the round of 32 by the No. 11 Xavier Musketeers. It was the fifth time the program has made the dance under the leadership of Hamilton.

The 68-year-old head coach has amassed a slew of accomplishment during his 15 seasons at the helm. He was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012, won the ACC Tournament in 2012 and is the school’s all-time leader in wins with 282 victories during his tenure.

“His success coupled with the type of student-athletes we are currently attracting show we are on the right track,” Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox said in the statement.  “This extension will provide him the opportunity to reach both of our goals for the program which are annual NCAA Tournament appearances and success advancing in the Tournament.”

Hamilton will have his work cut out for him next season, however. Florida State will lose its top three scorers — Dwayne Bacon, Jonathan Isaac and Xavier Rathan-Mayes — from the 2016-17 roster. 6-foot-6 rising junior Terance Mann will likely be asked to take on a much more significant role in the team’s offense.

The head coach will also welcome another top 25 recruiting class to the campus in the fall. That class is highlighted by 7-foot center Ikechukwu Obiagu, a four-star recruit out of Decatur, GA who is ranked No. 61 in the 2017 class.

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Hamilton’s extension will work to reassure future recruits of his presence within the program, allowing the Seminoles to establish continuity for the future. Given his past successes, it’s not hard to imagine he’ll turn these upcoming recruiting classes into something similar.