Kent State wrestling coach Jim Andrassy has received a contract extension through the 2015-16 season, securing the ninth-year head coach for another four years.

“I was pretty happy,” Andrassy said. “It’s exciting to see that the administration has enough confidence in me to sign me for the next four years.”

Andrassy, who was the Mid-American Conference coach of the year in 2009, was an assistant coach for the wrestling team for nine years before becoming the head coach in 2003. He has been involved with the team in some capacity for the past 22 years.

Since the 05-06 season, the Flashes have a record of 94-30-1 in dual meets and have never finished below second place in the MAC regular season or the conference tournament. The team has sent at least five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in each of the last six seasons.

With Andrassy at the helm, the team has produced five All-American performances from four different wrestlers, including 2011 national champion Dustin Kilgore. Currently, Kent State is ranked No. 16 in the NWCA coaches poll and have six wrestlers ranked in the top 20, according to The Open Mat.

“We’re making steps,” Andrassy said. “When I was an assistant, we weren’t ranked in the top 20, and we only sent about three guys to the national championships. We’ve gotten good recruiting classes, and I think if we can continue building our program, we can be a top 10 team before it’s all said and done.”

Along with the success on the mat, the Flashes have also enjoyed increased academic success. During the 2011 spring semester, the team carried a combined GPA of 3.0, the first time since the records starting being kept in 1982.

Andrassy has a strong connection with Kent State. He wrestled as a student for the team from 1990-94 and finished with 106 career wins. He also earned a MAC individual title as a wrestler. Soon after graduation, he became an assistant coach and was named head coach for the 2002-03 season.

Andrassy earned his 100th career win as a head coach earlier this season. With the contract extension, he’s hoping to continue his team’s success for years to come.

“This is where I want to be,” Andrassy said. “It’s home to me, and I’m just glad to get it done. Now we just have go out there and do what we do and keep getting better as a team.”

Contact Tim Dorst at [email protected].