Utah signs women's hoops coach Lynne Roberts to multi-year contract extension
Utah announced this week that head women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts has signed a contract extension that will keep her in Salt Lake City through June of 2027. Roberts guided the Utes to the Pac-12 tournament championship game last season and the first NCAA tournament win for the program since 2008.
“Lynne Roberts has steadily built a championship-level winning program in the most competitive women’s basketball conference in the country, and it is imperative that we reinforce support for her and her staff with this contract extension,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “The breakthrough success her team enjoyed in 2021-22—playing in the Pac-12 championship game and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament—was not an overnight sensation but a reflection of the incredibly solid and healthy foundation she has established to sustain success.”
The Roberts Era continues. 🙌@UtesCoachRob has signed a contract extension through June of 2027. ✍️
📰 https://t.co/enkYUmeKMG pic.twitter.com/bExCnYMNO6
— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) April 19, 2022
Roberts heads into her eighth season with the Utes, holding an overall record of 112-99. She has 333 career wins in 20 seasons as a head coach.
“I love Utah, Salt Lake City, the University of Utah, and this athletic department,” Roberts said in a statement from the program. “Beyond that, I believe in this place: the state, the community, the university, our athletics department, and its leadership. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue to build a women’s basketball powerhouse in the Pac-12 here at the University of Utah. President Randall, Athletic Director Mark Harlan, and COO Charmelle Green – thank you for your support of women’s athletics and of our basketball program. The best is yet to come!”
During the 2021-22 season, she led the Utes to a 21-win campaign and to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. The Utes took three games at the Pac-12 tournament, earning a spot in the championship game for the first time in program history.
Utah was the highest-scoring team in the Pac-12 (17th nationally), posting a season-long average of 75.9 points per game, the fourth-highest in a season in school history and the best since 1980-81. Utah also led the Pac-12 in 3s made (seventh nationally and a school-record), assists per game, and free throw attempts.
The Utes finished sixth in the Pac-12 regular season, which ties their highest finish in school history. Utah’s Gianna Kneepkens was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, just the second Ute in program history to earn that honor, and was selected to the All-Pac-12 team.
Roberts has guided the Utes to the NCAA Tournament in four of her first seven seasons at the helm. Utah is clearly hoping for more of the same moving forward.