Bonnie Henrickson Signs Three-Year Extension

Aug. 13, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Head Women’s Basketball Coach Bonnie Henrickson has signed a three-year extension to her employment agreement; that agreement now runs through the 2013-14 season. The employment agreement, which totals $485,000 annually, does not change. An additional agreement, a retention payment, remains at $150,000 annually.

“We are excited about what the future holds, and very pleased that Bonnie will be the coach to lead us into that future,” said KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins. “She has done an excellent job building our women’s basketball program to a high level in what is perhaps the most difficult conference in the country.”

The extension comes on the heels of a breakout season for the Jayhawks, who rode a second-half surge all the way to the championship game of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, played in Allen Fieldhouse in front of a record-setting crowd of more than 16,000 cheering fans. Henrickson’s 2008-09 team went 11-2 in non-conference play, and closed its conference season by winning four of its last five games, including victories over #5 Baylor and #21 Iowa State.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence from Lew Perkins,” Henrickson said, and I am excited about the progress we’ve made. Between the beautiful new facilities that we have and the talent on this year’s team, I’m as excited about the future as I’ve ever been. This is a great time to be at KU.”

KU finished the 2008-09 season ranked in the Top 25 on the NCAA attendance chart and ranked fourth in the country in attendance increase. The Jayhawks have played in postseason play in three of Henrickson’s five years at Kansas.

Under Henrickson’s tutelage guard-forward Danielle McCray has developed into an honorable-mention All-American and a first-team All-Big 12 performer. This summer McCray was the second-leading scorer on USA Basketball’s undefeated, gold-medal-winning World University Games team.

Henrickson and her staff have not only guided their athletes to victories on the court, but many have achieved tremendous accomplishments in the classroom at KU. Under Henrickson, the overall team GPA has steadily risen since she arrived in Lawrence; in her first five seasons, the Jayhawks have produced 15 student-athletes to the Academic All-Big 12 Team and no less than 28 have received Athletic Director’s Honor Roll awards.

Henrickson is also well-respected in her field. She won the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Carol Eckman Award in 2005 — an award that recognizes a coach who exemplifies spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose.

Henrickson arrived at KU after an outstanding seven-year tenure at Virginia Tech, where she guided the Hokies to a record of 158-62 and seven postseason appearances. Under her leadership, Virginia Tech reached the NCAA tournament five times and the WNIT twice, and won 20 or more games every season.