George Washington extends head coach Mike Lonergan's contract

Mike Lonergan has led a dramatic turnaround at GW in only three seasons. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

George Washington extended head basketball coach Mike Lonergan's contract through the 2020-21 season, the school announced on Friday.

"As we continue to strengthen our athletic program, it is important to look well into the future," said George Washington athletics director Patrick Nero. "Securing strong, stable leadership for our men's basketball program was a high priority. Mike has succeeded in bringing high quality young men to GW, and we are proud of how they have developed both on and off the court."

Said Lonergan, a native of Bowie, Md.: "When I was hired at GW three years ago it fulfilled a career-long dream to coach at the highest level of college basketball. Having had the opportunity to return to my roots and once again coach in the area where I grew up, it's now my truest hope that this will be where I retire."

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The Colonials made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament this season since three straight trips from 2005-07. Ninth-seeded George Washington (24-9) lost to No. 8 Memphis, 71-66, in the round of 64 last Friday.

Lonergan is 47-47 in three seasons at George Washington, improving the Colonials' record each season. The 48-year-old won a Division III national championship at Catholic University in 2001, and took Vermont to the NCAA tournament in 2010. He has a 424-203 (.676) record in 21 seasons and a head coach and was also an assistant at Maryland under Gary Williams.

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