Mooney, Shafer extend contracts to lead Spiders basketball teams

About 60 seconds after the University of Richmond announced a contract extension for men's basketball coach Chris Mooney yesterday, his boss made clear the program's ambitious goals.

Said Spiders Athletic Director Jim Miller: "We expect to consistently and successfully compete for Atlantic 10 championships and earn post-season opportunities that will enable the University of Richmond to be recognized nationally as fielding quality basketball programs."

UR women's basketball coach Michael Shafer also received an extension. Miller chose not to comment on length, compensation, buy-out clauses or other details.

Mooney, 36, is in the fourth year of the five-year deal he signed when he replaced Jerry Wainwright. Mooney's teams are 53-68, 27-36 in the Atlantic 10, with one postseason bid (2008 College Basketball Invitational).

Miller called the extensions "recognition that we have made significant progress and are well-positioned to accomplish our objectives under coach Mooney's and coach Shafer's leadership."

Said Mooney: "The biggest thing is I think we've brought in both good players and good kids who have been good students . . . Overall, the program, the foundation, is very strong right now."

The extension, Mooney suggested, probably would not provide a charge for the Spiders (8-7, 16-14), who close their regular season tomorrow night against visiting 17th-ranked Xavier.

"I don't necessarily think it was a concern beyond myself individually," he said. "I don't think the guys on the team - certainly they never expressed anything to me about that. I don't know if they are as in tune with those kinds of things as you might suspect."

Shafer, 37 and also in his fourth year (61-59, 29-29 in the A-10), called the extension's value "immeasurable" to him as a recruiter. "It's something you get asked a lot," he said of contract status.

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