Mercer Extends Head Coach Susie Gardner’s Contract
10/5/2017 11:18:00 AM | Women's Basketball
2016 SoCon Coach of the Year to Remain at the helm of the Bears’ program
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Athletics Department and Head Women's Basketball Coach Susie Gardner have agreed to terms on a new contract, extending through the 2022 season, as announced by Director of Athletics Jim Cole on Thursday.
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"I am excited to extend the relationship between Coach Gardner and Mercer Athletics," Cole said. "Her commitment to our student-athletes, both on the court and in the classroom, is an example to all of our coaches and staff here at Mercer. I look forward to the future success of our women's basketball program with Susie at the helm."
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Gardner, who led the Bears to a 25-7 overall record and a 12-2 mark in Southern Conference in 2016-17, is the third-winningest coach in Mercer history with 114 wins. Gardner has registered 290 total career wins in 18 seasons, needing just 10 more to reach 300. During her tenure at Mercer, Gardner has guided the Bears to four postseason tournaments including back-to-back appearances in the WNIT in 2016 and 2017. The Bears claimed a program-record 25 wins last season under Gardner's tutelage.
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The Bears have succeeded on and off the court under Gardner's guidance. Gardner has coached three conference players of the year, three conference freshman of the year, one defensive player of the year, six first team all-conference members, three second team all-conference honorees, five all-freshman winners and was named SoCon Coach of the Year in 2015-16. In addition, Gardner has coached 31 all-conference academic members during her time with Mercer.
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"I would like to thank President Bill Underwood, Jim Cole, and Sybil Blalock for their continued support of the Mercer Women's Basketball program," Gardner said. "We have worked extremely hard to put a competitive team on the court and with back-to-back regular season championships I am very proud of the strides we have made in this area. I am equally proud of the students that we recruit as they excel in the classroom and represent this university in the Macon community. I am excited about our team as we continue to work towards our goal of the NCAA tournament."
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The Bears open the regular season at Central Florida on Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. Mercer will hold its first official practice of the season this Sunday.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB(Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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"I am excited to extend the relationship between Coach Gardner and Mercer Athletics," Cole said. "Her commitment to our student-athletes, both on the court and in the classroom, is an example to all of our coaches and staff here at Mercer. I look forward to the future success of our women's basketball program with Susie at the helm."
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Gardner, who led the Bears to a 25-7 overall record and a 12-2 mark in Southern Conference in 2016-17, is the third-winningest coach in Mercer history with 114 wins. Gardner has registered 290 total career wins in 18 seasons, needing just 10 more to reach 300. During her tenure at Mercer, Gardner has guided the Bears to four postseason tournaments including back-to-back appearances in the WNIT in 2016 and 2017. The Bears claimed a program-record 25 wins last season under Gardner's tutelage.
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The Bears have succeeded on and off the court under Gardner's guidance. Gardner has coached three conference players of the year, three conference freshman of the year, one defensive player of the year, six first team all-conference members, three second team all-conference honorees, five all-freshman winners and was named SoCon Coach of the Year in 2015-16. In addition, Gardner has coached 31 all-conference academic members during her time with Mercer.
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"I would like to thank President Bill Underwood, Jim Cole, and Sybil Blalock for their continued support of the Mercer Women's Basketball program," Gardner said. "We have worked extremely hard to put a competitive team on the court and with back-to-back regular season championships I am very proud of the strides we have made in this area. I am equally proud of the students that we recruit as they excel in the classroom and represent this university in the Macon community. I am excited about our team as we continue to work towards our goal of the NCAA tournament."
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The Bears open the regular season at Central Florida on Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. Mercer will hold its first official practice of the season this Sunday.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWBB (Twitter), /MercerWBB(Facebook) and @MercerWBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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