ERIE, Pa. - Gannon Director of Athletics Mark Richard has announced a contract extension for head women's basketball coach Cleve Wright through the 2012-13 season.

Wright is Gannon's all-time winningest coach and longest-tenured coach in the 36-year history of the women's basketball program. One of only two women's basketball coaches in school history with 100 career wins, Wright has a 167-75 career record in eight seasons. He is Gannon's all-time women's basketball coaching leader in victories (167) and winning percentage (.690) while ranking 23rd among active NCAA Division II women's basketball coaches in career winning percentage and among the top 40 in career victories.

The Gannon women's basketball program has excelled on the court and in the classroom under Wright. The program has ranked among the nation's best in academics every year and has been among the nation's top 25 in team grade-point average the last six seasons.

Gannon ranked among the nation's top 12 in team grade-point average the last four campaigns, including a No. 12 ranking the last two seasons. It produced a 3.497 team GPA in 2008-09 and 3.491 mark in 2009-10. In 2006-07, the Lady Knights achieved their highest national ranking ever, being tabbed sixth with a 3.494 mark. The program was ninth in 2007-08 (3.508), 21st in 2005-06 (3.343) and seventh in 2004-05 (3.487). In addition, Lady Knights have earned conference All-Academic honors 52 times over the last eight seasons.

“Coach Wright continues to do an outstanding job in leading our women's basketball program,” said Richard. “The University is extremely proud of the women's basketball program's achievements on the court and in the classroom. The 2009-10 academic year was like none other. Just as important, we were extremely impressed with the way the coaches and student-athletes represented Gannon in a first-class manner during their time in the national spotlight last season."

Wright was named Russell Athletic/WBCA NCAA Division II Head Coach of the Year, NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year and PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year in 2010. He was the mastermind behind Gannon's 37-1 season that included the program's first-ever PSAC Championship and first-ever NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional title. The Lady Knights were ranked No. 1 in the final three USA Today ESPN regular-season top 25 polls, joining the women's lacrosse program (2000 and 2001) as the only two programs in school history to reach the apex of the national rankings.

“My family and I are excited about the opportunity to stay at Gannon University,” said Wright. “We love the team, the University and the community. I would like to thank President Dr. Garibaldi and Director of Athletics Mark Richard for their commitment to our program.”

Gannon was the lone undefeated team in NCAA Division II last season until dropping a 97-94 overtime decision to eventual NCAA Division II champion Emporia State in the national semifinals. The Lady Knights broke the NCAA Division II records for most victories (37) in a season and most consecutive wins (37) in a single season.

In addition to qualifying for 13 consecutive conference tournaments, Gannon has always played well down the stretch under Wright's guidance. The Lady Knights are 48-12 (.800) in the month of February during the last eight years.

Wright, 45, and his wife, Diane, have two daughters, Chloe (13) and Emma (11).