Schroyer gets extension; team APR soars

Head coach Heath Schroyer

By UW Media Relations

University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced on Wednesday that head basketball coach Heath Schroyer’s contract has been extended for two years, through April 30, 2014. Schroyer’s base salary was also increased from $150,000 to $160,000. His original contract was a five-year deal that was due to end after the conclusion of the 2011-12 season.

“In his first two years, Heath has done an excellent job of turning our men’s basketball program in a positive direction both from a competitive standpoint and in the classroom,” said Burman. “He guided the Cowboys back into postseason play for the first time in six seasons, while at the same time raising the expectations and the performance of our student-athletes academically. I get excited when I see the young players in our program, not only because of their athletic abilities, but because of the fine young men they are.

“I believe that what Coach Schroyer has been able to accomplish in his first two seasons is a sign of bigger and better things to come. This contract extension is both a reward for those accomplishments, as well as a display of the commitment we are making to build our men’s basketball program into one that can compete for conference championships and make our fans proud.”

This past year, Wyoming posted a 19-14 record, defeated Mountain West Conference tri-champion New Mexico in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament and advanced to the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament.

The NCAA released its most recent Academic Progress Rate (APR) figures this week, which includes data through the 2007-08 academic year. The Wyoming men’s basketball program received its highest annual score of 935 during the 2007-08 academic year. Due to the Cowboys’ academic improvement and a favorable comparison based on other academic and institutional factors, the Cowboys will be allotted 13 scholarships for the upcoming year, which is the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA for men’s basketball programs.

The 2007-08 season marked the first under Schroyer. In his first full season at the helm of the Cowboy basketball program, the team’s annual APR score improved 164 points from an historic low of 771 during 2006-07 to a 935 for 2007-08.

“Correcting the APR issue was a major area of emphasis when we hired Heath (Schroyer), and we are extremely pleased about the improvement that has been made,” Burman said. “The strides that this program has made on the floor were made evident in the team’s play this past season. Now it is great to see evidence of the progress that is being made off of the floor.”

“I am extremely happy with what we have been able to do in addressing our APR,” Schroyer said. “We have made improvements on the floor, as well as in the classroom. This is exciting progress as we look to the future of our program.

“When I was hired, addressing the APR issue was a major priority. I am pleased with the progress we have made, while also setting a standard of how things need to be done in the future.”

Each academic year every Division I team calculates its APR. A team’s APR is based on eligibility, retention and graduation of each student-athlete on scholarship. The multiyear APR scores date back four academic years to the 2004-05 season.

“I’m excited about being here at Wyoming, and I’m excited about the commitment level that the administration and the University has shown me, my family and my staff,” said Schroyer. “I’m thankful every morning I get up and go to work that I’m the basketball coach here -- it’s a great place.

“I believe we are on the verge of accomplishing something special here in a short amount of time. The nice thing about receiving this extension is it assures me that I will be able to stay here and see the freshman and sophomore classes through to the end of their college careers. I’m really proud of the two classes we’ve been able to recruit, and I believe those two classes together have a chance to bring Wyoming basketball back to the top.”