Gregg Marshall, Wichita State Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction

Breathe easily, Wichita State fans. Coach Gregg Marshall is sticking around.

With a number of high-profile jobs opening up this offseason, including the one at Texas, there was speculation that Marshall would take a position at a power-conference school. Instead, he will stay at Wichita State and try to build on his team’s Sweet 16 appearance from this season. 

Jason King of Bleacher Report was the first to break the news Wednesday, and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports confirmed it:

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported that the “new deal will be for $3.3 million per year on a seven-year contract.”

Marshall's son Kellen commented on his father's new contract:

Marshall had been a speculated candidate for other jobs before reaching his new deal with the Shockers, including with Texas. However, King noted that the Longhorns never made contact with Marshall regarding their open head coaching spot.

Marshall has built a consistent winner in the Missouri Valley Conference and even took his team to the Final Four in the 2012-13 season. The Shockers also finished with a perfect record during the 2013-14 regular season and lost a heartbreaking game to the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA tournament round of 32.

Part of the reason Wichita State has been so successful in recent years is the presence of veterans Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet in the backcourt. Troy Machir of Sporting News speculated what this latest news could mean for the immediate future of the two guards:

Wichita State fans would certainly love to see Baker and VanVleet, both juniors, and Marshall all back and battling for a potential Final Four run in the 2015-16 season.