Vanderbilt announced Tuesday that it is extending fourth-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse.

“The positive trajectory of our men’s basketball program under Coach Stackhouse is clear,” Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Lee said. “Committing to and investing in him as the leader is an important part of building the championship caliber program that we all want and expect here at Vanderbilt. I value the contributions Jerry and his program have made to our community and campus, and I am excited about our future.”

Stackhouse has made tremendous strides in a program that hasn’t experienced much success. Being a former NBA player can do that for a program and is a big advantage in recruiting.

“With this new contract, they continue to show the confidence in my tremendous staff and myself,” Stackhouse said.

Stackhouse’s triumphs as a coach include sending Aaron Nesmith, Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr. to the NBA. He also reached an NIT quarterfinal and now looks to bigger goals as a coach.

It once seemed that Stackhouse was headed on a trajectory towards being an NBA head coach, winning a G-League championship for the Raptors 905 as well as being an assistant for the Memphis Grizzlies, but he ended up moving to the college ranks with the Commodores.

“I am equally committed,” Stackhouse said. “I love it at Vanderbilt – Ramirra and I love living in Nashville and competing in the SEC.  It has become our home.”