TOWSON, Md. - Towson University has extended the contract of Head Women's Basketball Coach Joe Mathews through the 2011-12 season, it has been announced by Director of Athletics Mike Hermann.

"Joe has done a wonderful job building our women's basketball program since his arrival in 2001," said Hermann. "You can actually look at the year-by-year results and visibly see the improvement in the program. He inherited a program that was not competitive and had just moved into a more challenging league."

"Under his leadership, not only has Towson developed a reputation as an upper division program in the CAA, but the league has improved over that same time frame. Over the past four years, the CAA has been consistently ranked among the top 10 women's basketball conference in the country," added Hermann. "But the wins and losses are just a part of the story of Joe's work at Towson. He's developed a program that encourages student-athletes to achieve academically, compete athletically and contribute to the community through service.  I'm pleased that we have been able to reach agreement to keep him at Towson for at least the next three seasons, and I'm excited to see where the program will grow over the span."

"It is great to be part of this university and I am excited about continuing the growth of this program," said Mathews.

Entering his ninth season, Mathews has led the Tigers to 95 wins since his arrival on campus in May, 2001. Those wins include a school-record 22 victories during the 2007-08 season. Mathews has led the Tigers to back-to-back appearances in the CAA quarterfinals. The Tigers have posted three straight winning seasons under Mathews. He helped manufacture a strong turnaround for the program, during the 2003-04 season the Tigers posted just nine wins. The next year Towson won 16 games.

Mathews has seen five players earn All-CAA honors during his time and that group includes two-time selections Shanae Baker-Brice and Tierra Jackson.  In addition, Mathews has seen three of his players earn CAA All-Academic honors including current Tiger Haliena Snowden.

Mathews and the Tigers begin the 2009-10 campaign on November 13 when they travel to West Virginia for first round Preseason WNIT action.

-- TIGERS --