KENT, Ohio — Kent State has signed men's basketball coach Rob Senderoff to a contract extension through the 2025-26 season.
The 47-year-old Senderoff is the winningest coach in Golden Flashes history. He's gone 196-129 in 10 seasons, including 99-77 in the Mid-American Conference.
KSU has finished .500 or better in each of Senderoff's seasons, including a MAC regular season co-championship in 2015 and a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. His decade-long tenure is also tied with Jim McDonald for the longest the program has ever seen.
"We are thrilled to extend the contract of Coach Senderoff," new athletic director Randale L. Richmond, who took over just a month ago, said Tuesday. "The impact he has had on our student-athletes both on and off the floor has been tremendous. His consistency is a testament to the passion he brings to the program."
Senderoff took over the program in 2011 after serving the three previous seasons as associate head coach under Geno Ford. He previously spent time at KSU under Jim Christian, and has also been an assistant at Fordham, Yale, Towson, and Indiana, the last of which saw him hit with a 30-month show-cause penalty for his involvement in the recruiting scandal that led to the resignation of then-head coach Kelvin Sampson. Ford later gave Senderoff a second chance at Kent, and the New York native has not been in trouble with the NCAA since.
"I want to thank President [Todd] Diacon, Athletic Director Randale Richmond and Senior Deputy Athletic Director Greg Glaus for their belief in me," Senderoff said in a statement. "Kent State is a second home for me and my family. I am incredibly excited to continue to lead the Golden Flashes moving forward. I think the future is incredibly bright here at Kent State and can not wait to lead us to even greater heights!"
This is the third new contract Senderoff has signed since becoming the head man in Portage County: Following his MAC regular season title in 2015, he inked a five-year extension through 2021 worth a reported $350,000 per season (plus incentives). He responded two years later by leading the Flashes to their first MAC Tournament victory since, which earned them the No. 14 seed in the NCAA's South Regional (they lost in the first round to UCLA). Kent State then rewarded him with a raise and another new contract through 2022.
"Coach Senderoff is a proven winner," Richmond added. "He has ensured the program is at or near the top of the Mid-American Conference year in and year out. Additionally, Rob is committed to Kent State University, the Kent State community and his student-athletes."
Financial terms of Senderoff's latest contract were not disclosed. KSU finished 15-8 in 2020-21, tying for third in the MAC before falling in the opening round of the conference tourney.
