The great irony of Maryland's NCAA tournament appearance is that for all the angst people have had with coach Gary Williams, he is likely to have an extra year tacked onto his contract as a result of the Terrapins' accomplishments.
First a little contract history. Williams signed a contract extension in December 2005 through the end of the 2009 season. The contract contained a clause that stipulated Williams would get an extra year added to his deal for every season he:
(a) Reached the NCAA tournament
(b) Had his team hit the APR cut score OR his scholarship players averaged 27 credits
That contract was pushed through 2011 less than a year later, mainly because someone wised up and realized Williams would look like a lame duck without four years left on his deal.
So then the Terps reached the tournament in 2007 and the deal was pushed through 2012.
Then Maryland missed the NCAA field last year.
And now the Terps are back in the postseason. If Maryland takes care of its business in the classroom (and given how regimented the program's academic schedules have become, the 27-credit clause probably has a decent chance of being met), Williams will receive a bump through 2013 for one of the best coaching jobs of his career.
--- Patrick Stevens
