Hoffman Receives Two-Year Extension to Guide Bears Men's Basketball

MACON—Following a season in which he led his men’s basketball team to the Atlantic Sun Conference championship game, Mercer University head coach Bob Hoffman has agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Mercer through the 2015 season. Hoffman had three years remaining on a five-year agreement that was signed in 2008.

“The contract extension for Bob Hoffman is well deserved,” said Director of Athletics Bobby Pope. “He not only puts a competitive team on the floor, his players perform well academically, and his work in the community puts fans in the stands and makes Mercer basketball more visible in Middle Georgia. Season ticket sales and overall attendance were at an all-time high last season, and we expect that those numbers will continue to grow this coming year and in future years. Much of the credit goes to Bob. We anticipate having Coach Hoffman on the University Center sidelines for many years to come.”

In two years at the Mercer helm, Hoffman has led the Bears to the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament both seasons, reaching the finals of last year’s event hosted by Mercer. The Bears’ stirring run through the 2009-10 A-Sun tourney ignited a “basketball fever” – and fervor – on the Mercer campus and in the Middle Georgia community. Hoffman’s team also produced the men’s college basketball “Player of the Year” for the state of Georgia and third-best rebounder in NCAA Division I (Daniel Emerson); a new MU all-time scoring leader and first team all-region selection (James Florence); and the nation’s second-most prolific three-point shooting threat (E.J. Kusnyer).

Additionally, the Mercer team proved to be one of the nation’s most exciting teams by ranking 33^rd in scoring offense at 76.2 points per game, while averaging 8.3 three-point baskets made per game to support that offensive output.

“I look forward to working with Coach Hoffman for many years to come,” said Jim Cole, who takes over as Mercer’s athletic director on July 1. “He brings energy, desire and commitment to the table every day. He understands Mercer’s aspiration to build a great athletic program within the context of an outstanding academic institution that is committed to turning out great student-athletes.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to coach at Mercer University. The support from the administration, the community, the students and the alumni has been tremendous,” Hoffman said. “We look forward with great anticipation to exciting days for Mercer men’s basketball.”