The architect of last season's fourth biggest turnaround in Division 1 college basketball was rewarded on Monday. Ball State's James Whitford signed a contract extension that will run through April 2021.
Ball State's turnaround under Whitford's guidance has been dramatic. In his first season after leaving the Arizona Wildcats program for Muncie, the Cardinals tallied a 5-25 mark, the worst in school history. A year later BSU improved to 7-23. Last season saw a major resurgence in the Ball State men's basketball program. The Cardinals won 21 games, including 10-8 in conference play, and reached the quarterfinals of the CIT.