| Racers add 2 more years for Hatcher | | Posted: Friday, January 6, 2012 7:00 pm
| Murray State University has extended the contract of head football coach Chris Hatcher. The two-year extension means Hatcher’s contract now runs through Dec. 31, 2015.
“Coach Hatcher is very deserving of this contract extension,” said director of athletics Allen Ward. “He’s done a tremendous job leading our football program, brought excitement back to Stewart Stadium, and built a team in a short period of time that can compete with the best in the OVC and the FCS.”
“There’s a lot more to being a head coach than what goes on at practice or on the sidelines on Saturday. And no one has embraced those different roles better than Coach Hatcher. He takes a lot of pride in being the head coach at Murray State and works hard every day to make us better. I appreciate all he’s done for the program and look forward to a very bright future for Racer football as a result of his extraordinary efforts.”
Hatcher did not take long to change the culture at MSU as he led the Racers to their first winning season in seven years by going 6-5 in 2010. He followed it up by leading MSU to a 7-4 record in 2011, marking the first time since the 1999-2000 season the Racers posted back-to-back winning seasons.
The Racers’ 13 victories during Hatcher’s tenure equal the amount of wins MSU amassed the previous five years. More importantly, the Racers went 5-1 down the stretch in each of the last two seasons and are a perfect 6-0 in the month of November.
“I am thankful to president (Randy) Dunn and Mr. Ward for the opportunity that they gave me and the support they have shown in my time at Murray State,” said Hatcher. “Murray State is a special place and I look forward to this opportunity to return Racer football back to national prominence.”
The Racers have produced one of the top offenses in the FCS over the past two seasons.
This past season, junior quarterback Casey Brockman rewrote the MSU and OVC single-season record books. He was named first-team all-OVC, as well as finishing 11th in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, honoring the top player in the FCS.
Also, running back Mike Harris became just the 10th player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards.
Hatcher has done more than just upgrade the talent on the field. Since his arrival, the team has received upgrades to its locker room, created a player’s lounge and upgraded the video facilities to include theater seating.
Published in The Messenger 1.6.12 | | | | |
