FROM STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE SOURCES
Kirk Earlywine will get a chance to see what the exciting and productive freshmen he recruited can do as sophomores.
Earlywine, Eastern Washington University men's head basketball coach has received a contract extension and will return for his fourth season at the helm of the Eagles, EWU athletic director Bill Chaves has announced.
Earlywine, 45, is 32-58 in his first three seasons, including a 17-31 record in the Big Sky Conference. With three freshmen – Glen Dean, Jeffrey Forbes and Kevin Winford - in its starting lineup this past season, Eastern was 9-21 overall and 5-11 in the league, finishing seventh and missing the six-team league tournament for the fourth-straight season. The Eagles lost 10 games by six points or less.
“We look forward to our men's basketball program turning the corner next year and again being a part of the Big Sky Tournament,” Chaves said.
“I am very happy that (EWU President) Dr. (Rodolfo) Arévalo and Bill Chaves have chosen to allow me to continue the rebuilding process of the men's basketball program here at Eastern,” Earlywine said. “From day one, I knew that this would be a long and difficult process. However, with the young players who stepped forward this year, along with our redshirts and our incoming recruiting class, I feel that we are very close to turning the corner.”
“I firmly believe that this foundation will carry us to a place that will make the community, our fans, and the university proud, and I am excited to continue the work that will allow us to reach that goal,” Earlywine added.
Hired on the late date of June 14, 2007, Earlywine's first team had six players who had never played in a NCAA Division I game. In his debut year, he led the Eagles to an 11-19 finish including a 6-10 league mark. In his second season, EWU had a 12-18 record overall and was 6-10 in the Big Sky.
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