Purdue athletics director Morgan J. Burke today announced that head men’s basketball coach Matt Painter has signed an eight-year contract, retroactive to July of 2009, which will keep him on the Boilermaker sideline through the 2016-17 season.
The contract has an initial guaranteed compensation of $1.3 million per year, with bonus opportunities tied to academic, athletic and paid attendance performance that could total up to an additional $1 million annually.
“At Purdue, winning means success in competition, in the classroom and in one’s dealing with others,” Burke said. “It is all about developing leaders capable of making a difference in life. During his five years as head coach, Matt has embraced these aspirations as cornerstones for his program.
“Each year, this program has made positive strides, and all Purdue fans are extremely proud of the team’s efforts and results in all three areas. This new contract acknowledges this progress and our belief the best days for this program are yet to come. Matt and his wife, Jerri, are valuable members of the broader Purdue community, and we are glad they embrace Purdue and all it stands for.”
With four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths – including back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 the last two years – Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships and an international gold medal on his résumé, Painter is regarded as one the brightest and most-respected coaches in the college game.
“This is a defining moment for Purdue athletics and, specifically, for Purdue men’s basketball,” said Nancy Cross, senior associate athletics director and men’s basketball sport administrator. “The commitment that Matt, Jerri and their family have made and will continue to make ensures that Purdue will continue to compete with the most elite programs nationally.
“Matt’s passion for the game in total, his ability to recognize and reinforce in young men the values of competition, and his commitment to the highest ethical standards are equally significant. I have little doubt that under his leadership, Purdue basketball will continue its meteoric rise to be the premiere men’s basketball program in the country.”
In five years, Painter has taken a program that won only nine games in his initial campaign and returned it to the ranks of the nation’s elite. The Boilermakers tied the school record with 29 wins this season, finishing with a 29-6 record, while winning their first Big Ten regular-season championship since 1996. A year ago, Purdue claimed its first-ever conference tournament crown en route to its first Sweet 16 appearance in almost a decade.
“We have made a commitment to both winning championships and developing student-athletes that will represent Purdue with pride,” Painter said. “I’m excited to have this contract completed because it will enable us to focus on those priorities for years to come. I’m looking forward to being a part of a bright future for Boilermaker basketball.”
Painter also has resurrected Mackey Arena as one of the country’s best home-court advantages, piling up a 70-12 record (.854 winning percentage) at home over the last five seasons. The Boilermakers went 16-1 at Mackey Arena in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, setting a program record for home wins in a season, while the 2007-08 campaign also included Purdue’s first 9-0 home conference record since the 1987-88 season.
In July of 2009, Painter extended his reach past the collegiate game and into the international arena, serving as an assistant coach with the United States squad that captured the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite medaling in seven of the last nine U19 Worlds, Team USA had not won gold since 1991.
Painter’s transition into the head coaching job was a planned one, as he was tabbed in April of 2004 to succeed legendary Purdue coach Gene Keady and lead the Boilermakers into the future. Following a one-year stint as associate head coach, Painter officially became Purdue’s 18th head coach April 1, 2005.
A native of Muncie, Ind., Painter played guard for the Boilermakers from 1990 to 1993. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Purdue, he earned a master’s from Eastern Illinois in 1998. Matt and Jerri have three children: Maggie, Brayden and Emma.