Jackson Free Press

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss athletics director Pete Boone and head baseball coach Mike Bianco have agreed to a contract extension running through the 2011 season, Boone announced on Thursday.

The one-year rollover extension extends Bianco's current contract to four years. The four-year contract is the maximum allowed by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning, and the extension recommendation from Boone is pending the approval of the Board.

The contract extension comes on the heels of a 40-25 season in 2007 as Bianco led the Rebels to a third-consecutive Super Regional appearance and three-straight 40-win seasons for the first time in school history. Ole Miss is one of only four schools to have advanced to baseball's round of 16 each of the last three years. The Rebels also hosted an NCAA Regional for the fourth-consecutive year, making Ole Miss one of only two schools in the country to host an NCAA Regional each of the last four seasons.

"Ole Miss baseball has become one of the NCAA's elite programs under the guidance of Mike Bianco," Boone said. "Extending his contract will enable Ole Miss fans to watch some of the nation's best collegiate baseball for many years to come."

"I am very appreciative to Pete Boone and Chancellor Robert Khayat for their continued confidence in our baseball program here at Ole Miss," Bianco said. "We have accomplished a lot over the past few years. We are excited about building on that success as we continue to bring championships home to Ole Miss and work towards our goal of the College World Series and a national championship."

In seven years under Bianco, Ole Miss has posted some of the most successful seasons ever in the history of the program. The Rebels are 282-157-1 under Bianco for a .642 winnings percentage. Ole Miss has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in six of his seven seasons at the helm of the Rebel program and claimed the 2005 Western Division Championship and 2006 Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship.

In that time, Bianco has produced six All-American's, 11, Freshman All-America Selections, 19 All-SEC selections, three SEC Freshman of the Year selections, an SEC Player of the Year selection and a national Freshman of the Year selection. This season Ole Miss saw seven players earn All-SEC honors on either the first, second or freshman team and Jordan Henry was named SEC Freshman of the Year.

Rebels have also seen success in international competition during Bianco's tenure as five players have been selected to compete with USA Baseball's National Team. In 2007, sophomore right-handers Lance Lynn and Cody Satterwhite will both travel overseas to represent Ole Miss and the United States in international play.

Under Bianco's tutelage, several Rebels have gone on to rise through the professional ranks as right-handed pitcher T.J. Beam has gone on to pitch for the New York Yankees and three former Rebels are currently playing triple A ball in Barry Gunther, Seth Smith and Matt Tolbert. All told, Bianco has seen 31 players drafted or sign free-agent contracts to play professional ball in his seven years at Ole Miss.