BLITZ

Southern Miss gives basketball coach Doc Sadler a vote of confidence

Jason Munz
Hattiesburg American

Doc Sadler led the Southern Miss men’s basketball team to its best season in four years.

As a result, athletic director Jon Gilbert has rewarded him with a one-year contract extension. Now, Sadler’s contract runs through March 31, 2021.

The Golden Eagles recently completed Year 4 under Sadler, finishing 16-17 and beating FIU and Middle Tennessee at last week’s Conference USA tournament. Southern Miss is set to lose only one member from this season’s roster (D’Angelo Richardson) and is expected to add four scholarship players, bringing the total to 12 (up from nine).

“I am encouraged about the direction we’re headed,” Gilbert said. “I think everyone that attended (games this past season) can see we’re a lot more competitive than we’ve been. And I think with greater roster stability, we’ll be even better.”

The four-year deal Sadler agreed to when he was hired before the 2014-15 season included an extension provision which immediately extended another year unless the university provided written notice that it would not within five days of the season. Following the 2016-17 campaign, that saw the Golden Eagles finish 9-22, Gilbert decided he would not give Sadler, who makes $350,000 annually, a one-year extension.

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“I felt like it was the right thing to do,” Gilbert said. “I went to a lot of practices this year. I was at every home game. I went on the road with them a couple times. So I was around a lot. I wanted to make sure I was seeing and hearing. And I liked what I saw and what I heard.”

Gilbert said seeing how the Golden Eagles performed at the C-USA tournament served as a form of validation for him as well as Sadler.

“It was almost like a weight was lifted off Doc,” he said. “Because it’s been hard. That cloud (resulting from an NCAA investigation into the program under Sadler’s predecessor, Donnie Tyndall) has been over the program for a few years. So for us to experience success like that, I’m just really encouraged.”

Southern Miss basketball coach Doc Sadler calls a play during the second half against Marshall at the Conference USA tournament last week.