U-M extends John Beileins contract through 2018-19

Since John Beilein took over the Michigan men's basketball team, the Wolverines have advanced to the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game (2012), won a Big Ten title for the first time since 1986 (2013), broken the NCAA Tournament-less streak, built a beautiful new player development center, renovated Crisler Arena and sent several players to the NBA.

In other words, Beilein took a program that had been lost and brought it all the way back to the national limelight.

Wednesday afternoon, the Michigan athletic department doubled down on its commitment to Beilein, extending his contract through the 2018-19 season.

According to the Associated Press, Beilein will not make $2.45 million annually, making him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big Ten, behind Michigan State's Tom Izzo ($3.49 million), Indiana's Tom Crean ($3.16 million) and Ohio State's Thad Matta ($3.1 million).

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune,, Beilein made $1.8 million last season.

"I am very excited to have this opportunity to coach at the University of Michigan for at least five more years," Beilein said in a statement released through the athletic department. "I am grateful that President Coleman and Dave Brandon are pleased with the direction of our program and have extended this offer of agreement. My staff and I will continue to work every day with our student-athletes to ensure they grow from this incredible educational opportunity. At the same time, competing for Big Ten championship will be the goal each and every year."

In the last two years, the Wolverines have been one of the best teams within the best conference in America, posting a 55-18 overall record and a 25-11 Big Ten record, winning the regular season Big Ten championship in 2012 and coming within a game of repeating last season.

In 2013, Beilein - with the help of veterans Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr. - molded five freshmen into consistent contributors, each of whom had a big impact on the run to the NCAA Championship Game: Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht.

The Wolverines have been to four of the past five NCAA Tournaments. Previously, they hadn't made it to the Big Dance since 1998. In six seasons at Michigan, Beilein has compiled a 122-85 overall record.

"John is a tremendous ambassador of the University of Michigan and one of the most highly respected coaches in the country," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in the statement. "He recruits outstanding young men to represent the men's basketball program and develops them as players, students and future leaders. John has built a program that will compete for Big Ten championships on a regular basis and make exciting NCAA Tournament runs. We look forward to John, Kathleen and the entire Beilein family representing the University of Michigan for the foreseeable future."