The third time is the charm.
The LSU Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved a three-year contract extension for women’s basketball coach Nikki Fargas. Her contract will now run through June 30, 2022.
Initially on the board agenda in for the June meeting, the resolution was pulled before it could be put to a committee vote as contract details were ironed out. The contract was re-submitted for approval in September, but all athletic committee business was tabled because the meeting ran behind schedule.
This time, the athletic committee passed the resolution with no debate or discussion. It was approved along with the rest of the board’s committee items in a batch resolution passed without any objection.
Fargas will receive no raise from her current $700,000 annual compensation package, but the extension includes an increase in her maximum postseason bonus package from $500,000 to $600,000 per year. She can be fired without cause for a buyout package that would pay her $200,000 for each year remaining on the deal.
LSU has reached the NCAA Tournament six times in Fargas’ seven seasons and she owns a record of 132-93. She led the Lady Tigers to regional semifinals appearances in 2013 and 2014.
The board also approved small raises and contract extensions for LSU’s co-head coaches in swimming and diving, David Geyer and Douglas Shaffer. The two coaches, who have been in their roles since 2010, each received two-year extensions through June 2020 and raises from $110,000 to $115,000 per year.
With no direspect to former coaches, it must still be noted that it took those former coaches 20+ years to get to that elite level. Then for 5 years after that, there were no future players recruited to come to LSU. When Coach Fargas arrived, she had to begin rebuilding a depleted program, and she is already the second winninest coach in Lady Tiger history.
On another note, what we heard from fans over these years is how great it was when Coach Gunter found experienced JUCO players to help build the program. That seems to have been a popular decision back then. Also, two JUCO players who are here now have 2 years of eligibility left and the third one has 3 years.
Finally, there is a freshman on the team, making a 14 total players.
We are proud to be supporters of the Lady Tiger
With no disrespect to former coaches, it must still be noted that it took that former coach 20+ years to reach the elite level. Then after that there were NO players recruited for future years. When Coach Fargas arrived, she had to begin rebuilding a depleted program, and after only 7 years she is the second winninest coach in Lady Tiger history.
On another note- what we heard from fans during these years was how great it was when Coach Gunter recruited experienced JUCO players to help build the program. That seems to have been a popular decision back then. Also, please note that there is now one JUCO player who has THREE years of eligibility left while the other two have two years. In addition there IS a freshman on the team – making a roster of 14 players.
We are proud to support the Lady Tigers – players and coaches.