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Gamecocks give men's coach Frank Martin 4-year extension

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina men's basketball coach Frank Martin has received a four-year contract extension and a raise after tying the Gamecocks' record for most wins in a season.

Martin's new deal was approved by the school's Board of Trustees on Friday. He received a raise of $350,000 and will make $2.45 million next season. The contract keeps Martin at South Carolina through 2021-22. He had two years remaining on the six-year contract he signed after arriving from Kansas State following the 2011-12 season.

Martin's salary will increase by $50,000 each year through the life of the contract.

The Gamecocks started 15-0 this season, were 11-7 in the Southeastern Conference finished 25-9, matching the most-ever wins in program history. The last time South Carolina won 25 games was the 1969-70 season.

Even though South Carolina did not receive an NCAA Tournament bid this year, athletic director Ray Tanner believes the program is heading in the right direction.

''Our program has taken tremendous strides under Frank, and is in position to be an NCAA Tournament team,'' Tanner said in a statement. ''Frank is building a winning culture and we are very excited to have him as the leader of our men's basketball program.''

Martin had hoped South Carolina's strong start and third-place league showing would be enough to end a 12-year NCAA Tournament drought. Instead, the Gamecocks played in the NIT where they were knocked out in the second round at home by Georgia Tech.

South Carolina struggled down the stretch, losing six of its last 10 games. Martin indefinitely suspended five players, including Jamall Gregory and Eric Cobb. Gregory and Cobb were arrested and suspended for conduct issues.

Martin said after the Georgia Tech loss he needed to get away from the stress of the season and consider how the Gamecocks could best move forward. He is 70-63 in four seasons with the Gamecocks.

Martin and Tanner met again this week to finalize the extension before the coach headed out to the Final Four in Houston this weekend.

Martin thanked his current and past players to bringing South Carolina to this point. He said he's ready to take the team to the next level, noting: ''Giving all of Gamecock Nation a championship basketball program is what we will continue to strive for.''