Wake Forest Head Coach Danny Manning Returning Next Season

Wake Forest announced Friday that Danny Manning will return next season as the school's head men's basketball coach.

According to Stadium's Jeff Goodman, a "huge" buyout in Manning's contract played a role in the decision.

Manning has been the head coach at Wake Forest for the past five seasons. He has led the Demon Deacons to one NCAA tournament appearance during that time, and they have finished 11-20 in each of the past two seasons.

Despite the team's struggles in recent years, Manning said:

"I am excited about the future of our program. Even though it took longer than we wanted, I believe we have the foundation for future success. We didn't have the record we wanted last season, but our team showed its potential, especially toward the end of the season.

"This group of players kept fighting and improved throughout the year. With our returning players, our transfers who will become eligible next season and our incoming recruiting class, I believe that this team will have the ability, desire and chemistry to take a step forward next season."

Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman added:

"Following the season, Danny and I had an extensive series of meetings to discuss the future of the program. We were in agreement that this past season did not approach the expectations either of us has for Wake Forest basketball.

"Our discussion focused on the steps that are needed to ensure that our team is highly competitive on the court next season. I expect that Danny will take the steps needed to show improvement on the court next season while continuing to lead our student-athletes to represent Wake Forest positively in the classroom and in the community."

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Manning has a guaranteed contract that runs through 2025.

After leading Tulsa to the NCAA tournament in his second season at the helm in 2013-14, Wake Forest scooped him up.

Manning posted a losing record in each of his first two seasons at Wake before taking the Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in 2016-17. Wake lost to Kansas State in the First Four, though, and finished the season 19-14.

Wake Forest has just one winning season under Manning, and he's 65-93 overall. The Demon Deacons are 4-14 in ACC play in each of the past two campaigns.

The 52-year-old Manning has a great resume as a player, as he starred at Kansas before going No. 1 overall in the 1988 NBA draft and becoming a two-time All-Star, but that hasn't translated to coaching success yet.

Most of his top contributors this season were underclassmen, however, and each of his top six scorers are set to return.