VMI Inks Duggar Baucom To Contract Extension
LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI head basketball coach Duggar Baucom has agreed to a contract extension to coach Keydet Basketball through the 2011 season, athletic director Donny White announced Monday.
Baucom is entering his third season as VMI head basketball coach after being named to the post on April 14, 2005. His original four-year contract ran through the 2009 season. The new deal includes a salary raise and other benefits.
“I am extremely happy that Duggar Baucom has accepted our offer for a contact extension,” said White. “Under his leadership, our team has made great strides and I feel that he can make us a consistent winner.”
In 2006-07, Baucom led his second-year team to a banner season and national acclaim. Using an up-tempo system for the season, the Keydets, picked to finish last in the preseason poll, won their most games (14) in nine years and advanced to the championship game of the Advance Auto Parts Big South Men's Basketball Championship. The Keydets also set new NCAA season marks in three-pointers, both made and attempted (442 of 1383), 3-pointers made per game (13.4), 3-pointers attempted per game (41.9) and total steals (490).
VMI was declared the 2006-07 NCAA statistical champion in four team categories and two individual categories. The Keydets ranked first in Division I in scoring offense (100.9 PPG), three point field goals (13.4) made per game, assists per game (14.8), and steals per game (13.4).
Individually, junior forward Reggie Williams was declared the scoring champion in Division I after averaging 28.1 points per game. Sophomore guard Travis Holmes captured the steals per game statistical championship with 3.4 per game.
“I really appreciate the confidence that General Peay and Coach White have shown in me,” said Baucom. “The support I have received from fans, alumni and everyone in the VMI family has been awesome. All of this is made possible because of my great staff and my hard working players. I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to do something that I love to do.”
In recognition of the contract extension, VMI Superintendent J.H. Binford Peay III said, “Coach Baucom is a tireless worker, a superb game-day coach, and has energized the VMI basketball program.”
The Keydets, who return four starters from last season’s squad, have been picked to finish third in the Big South Conference preseason poll selected by the conference coaches, SID’s, and media. It was VMI’s highest spot in a league preseason poll in 30 years.
Baucom, 47, came to VMI after serving two years as head coach at Tusculum College where he directed the NCAA Division II Pioneers to 19 and 18-win seasons including a conference regular season and conference tournament championship. In two seasons at Tusculum, Baucom compiled a mark of 37-19, the most wins over a two-year period in school history. Baucom also served as an assistant coach at Western Carolina (2000-03), Northwestern State (1998-99), Mars Hill (1996-98) and Davidson (1995-96).