After having frustrating starts to their Panthers coaching tenures, both coaches were given votes of confidence in the form of contract extensions Monday.

Eastern men’s basketball head coach Mike Miller and women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee signed to stay in Charleston until 2009. Director of Athletics Rich McDuffie’s contract was also extended another two years until 2009 as well. All three deals were approved during the Board of Trustees monthly meeting on Monday.

Financial terms were not disclosed of any of the three extensions.

Miller, who just finished his first season with a 6-21 record, had two years remaining on the initial three-year deal the Monmouth native originally signed upon arrival.

“I’m excited about the university being committed to the way we want this program to grow,” Miller said. “This is going to take time, but we have brought in players in the hopes of showing improvement next year.”

McDuffie said that outside observers should not be surprised by Miller’s contract extension, but instead should be patient with its leader.

“This is not going to be a quick fix. When Mike came here, he inherited a program that needed a climate change,” McDuffie said. “To be honest, if the BOT rules would’ve permitted us to do so, we would’ve given him a longer deal.”

Sallee, who has a career record of 20-34, has led Eastern to consecutive double-digit win totals for the first time in almost a decade.

“The vote of confidence is worth more to me than any extension, raise or anything,” Sallee said. “Getting to the top of league is something we can do very quickly.”

Neither one of the Panther programs have finished above .500 since 2000-01, but the university wanted to prove they have long-term confidence in both individuals.

“I think this says something greatly positive about how our university treats its coaches compared to the dog eat dog world of college athletics,” Eastern President Lou Hencken said.

Everyone involved mentioned how this move would positively affect recruiting now that both coaches have longer security.

“Sometimes you need that support when you’re a new head coach especially when both can now say to recruits ‘Yes, I’m going to be here until you graduate’,” Hencken said.

“It’s something that always comes up and now people can’t say ‘Well you know Brady’s in the last year of his deal’ when they recruit against us,” Sallee said.

Having all three deals symmetrically finish at the same time are not coincidence but avoids having Sallee and Miller go into a lame-duck season.

“I didn’t think it would be a good idea to add that type of additional pressure onto a Division I coach who already has to worry about rebuilding a program,” McDuffie said.

McDuffie has been the head of the athletics department since March 1997 when he came over from Southeast Missouri. In his nine years at Eastern, McDuffie has completed major renovations to O’Brien Stadium, Williams Field and will oversee the new basketball offices in Lantz Arena this summer.

“This is the longest I’ve stayed at a particular place and couldn’t be happier to continue it,” McDuffie said.

Both coaches, who ironically have a wife and two kids, discussed this deal gives their families more security in knowing where they will be residing for at least three more years.

“It’s definitely a good day for our family,” Sallee said. “Hopefully once ’09 comes around we can keep this thing rolling.”

“What I noticed the first thing I got here was the very good people at this university,” Miller said. “I’m proud to say that I’m around people with the attitude that work together.”