Gary Blair's Contract Extended Through 2020-21 Season

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted on Thursday to extend the contract for Aggie women’s basketball coach Gary Blair an additional three years through the 2020-21 season.

The Board authorized Texas A&M President Michael K. Young to execute the coach’s employment contract in conjunction with Director of Athletics Scott Woodward.

“Gary is a Hall of Fame coach and continues to do an outstanding job,” Woodward said. “I am encouraged by his energy and focus to keep Aggie women’s basketball among the best in the nation.”

Blair, who was named to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, just finished his 14th season in Aggieland and the school made its record 12th straight NCAA appearance which also included the 2011 national championship. He is the winningest active coach in the SEC in terms of overall victories (739) as well as SEC wins (108).

“I am very appreciative to the Texas A&M administration for their support of Aggie women’s basketball,” Blair said. “The Aggie family is loyal and this contract extension helps us share our vision for the continued success of our program.”

“I am as encouraged and excited as I have ever been to coach our team and recruit terrific young ladies who are not only great basketball players, but terrific people as well.” Blair added. “This lets our student-athletes, recruits, and fans know that my coaching staff and I plan to be at Texas A&M for the foreseeable future.”

Blair has had 11 players selected in the WNBA draft in the past nine years. Blair will begin his 33rd year as a collegiate head coach. He is one of only three head coaches to lead two different teams to the NCAA Women’s Final Four (Texas A&M and Arkansas) and one of only eight coaches to lead three different programs to the NCAA Tournament (Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas, Texas A&M).

In addition to his success on the hardwood, Blair is an active member of the Bryan-College Station community and has helped Special Olympics raise more than $1 million dollars during his coaching career.