Kentucky women’s basketball coach Mickie DeMoss, who led the Wildcats to a top-four finish in the Southeastern Conference and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years, has been rewarded a new five-year contract worth $350,000 annually, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart announced Monday.

?Kentucky women?s basketball has made significant progress under Mickie?s leadership,? Barnhart said. ?Her ability to organize, recruit and mentor young people give me great confidence about the future of our program. Mickie wants to win championships at Kentucky, and we intend to support her in every way possible to help reach those achievements.?

In three seasons DeMoss has led the Wildcats to a 51-42 (.548) overall record, including a 22-9 mark last season. During 2005-06 DeMoss led UK to incredible new heights, piloting a team that went from winning a combined 20 games in the two years prior to her arrival, to a record-breaking regular season that included the most wins (22) in 16 years, a school-record nine SEC wins, the highest conference finish (fourth) in 23 years, and UK?s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in seven years. What’s more impressive is that DeMoss did it with one of the youngest teams in the nation, comprised of nine freshmen and sophomores and just one graduating senior. DeMoss did not go unrecognized for her success as she was named UK Hoops? first-ever SEC Coach of the Year by the SEC coaches and The Associated Press. In her three seasons as head coach, all 10 players who completed their eligibility also left with a degree.

?This speaks volumes of the commitment UK has made to the women?s basketball program,? DeMoss said. ?Being at Kentucky has been a tremendous experience for me. This past season was very rewarding to see us make so many positive strides in the SEC and on the national scene. I?m looking forward to the future of the program and bringing more excitement to women?s basketball at Kentucky.?