Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jennifer Roos to Receive Multi-Year Contract
June 09, 2008 | Women's Basketball
June 9, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University has reached an agreement in principle with Falcon women's basketball associate head coach Jennifer Roos on a multi-year contract that will run through June 30, 2013; the timeline will run parallel with that of head coach Curt Miller's contract.
"The BGSU women's basketball program has become a symbol of achievement not only within the MAC, but also at a national level, and Jennifer has been a big reason for that success," said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/ Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. "Along with Curt Miller and the rest of the staff, she has been instrumental in lifting the program to unprecedented heights."
With the terms of the contract, Roos will not only be the first assistant coach in the women's basketball program's 35-year existence to be granted a multi-year contract, but will also become the first within the Athletic Department at-large. The contract will also allow Roos to become the only known female assistant coach in the Mid-American Conference to no longer serve under a year-to-year basis; Mike Birkbeck, associate head coach of the Kent State baseball team is the lone male under similar circumstances.
"Jennifer is an outstanding coach. This multi-year contract is an indication of how we feel about the role that she plays in the overall success of our women's basketball program," said Janna Blais, Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator.
"She has an exceptional work ethic and a personality that inspires those around her to maintain a high level of excellence. She absolutely deserves this contract. We believe that the agreement that we have reached with Jennifer will reward her appropriately while helping to solidify the future success of our women's basketball program."
"I am very excited about this contract extension. I want to thank Greg Christopher and Janna Blais in particular for affording me this opportunity," said Roos. "I have been very fortunate to serve on Coach Miller's staff for the past seven years and to be a part of the Bowling Green community."
The Bowling Green community has also been fortunate to retain Roos.
Since earning the title of associate head coach in 2004, Roos, whose main forte focuses on the Falcons' defensive efforts, BGSU has topped the Mid-American Conference in overall scoring defense in three of the past four seasons. The 2006-07 team would finish the season ranking 29th amongst all NCAA squads under the same category; that finish is the highest in the Miller-era.
Furthermore, the defense has held their combined opponents between a .373 and .404 field goal percentage in each of the past four seasons and when combing those seasons, BGSU has allowed their opponent to post a .390 (2809-7207) field goal percentage.
Those defensive efforts have helped the all-to-familiar phrase, "defense wins championships" come to fruition.
Roos, Miller's first assistant coach hire, has helped guide the Falcons to four straight MAC regular-season titles and in doing so became the first women's basketball team to accomplish the four-peat. Mix in the Falcons' three MAC Tournament Championships, an additional trio of visits to the NCAA Tournament and a bid to the 2008 post-season WNIT and it is apparent she, along side Miller and the staff, have found a recipe for success.
"Jennifer is one of the best assistant coaches in the country and is a huge factor for the success of our program. I can't begin to express my gratitude and excitement to our administration for offering Jennifer a long-term contract," said Miller.
On Feb. 23, 2008 in an 81-66 come-from-behind decision at Miami's Millett Hall, the Falcon won their 145th game during the Miller-era to become the most dominate staff in the programs' history. By the end of the season, Roos, Miller and assistant coach Brandi Poole would accumulate a 150-68 record in seven seasons together. With the inclusion of assistant coach Kevin Eckert, who joined the program in 2002, the staff is 141-49.
The group also has become one of the longest tenured staffs in the conference.
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