Jerry Stackhouse Signs Contract Extension With Vanderbilt

Jerry Stackhouse. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

After a successful 2021-22 season, Vanderbilt has given men’s basketball head coach Jerry Stackhouse a four-year contract extension.

The two-time NBA All-Star has rejuvenated the program in his first three seasons in Nashville. The Commodores had just posted a winless record in the SEC when Stackhouse took over the helm ahead of the 2019-20 season. He helped lead Vandy to a 19-17 record in his third–and most recent–season, and made a run to the NIT quarterfinals.

“The positive trajectory of our men’s basketball program under Coach Stackhouse is clear,” says Candice Lee, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director. “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.”

Under Stackhouse’s tutelage, three former Vanderbilt student-athletes–Aaron Nesmith, Saben Lee and Scotty Pippen Jr.–have advanced to the NBA. Stackhouse has reloaded the Vanderbilt roster thanks to a strong push on the recruiting trail. The current freshman class was ranked No. 18 in the nation by Rivals and No. 24 by 247 Sports.

“I would like to recognize and thank our Board of Trust, Chancellor Diermeier, our AD Dr. Candice Storey Lee, my staff, players, family and all the fans of Commodore Nation for this amazing experience thus far and for the opportunity to continue to lead the Vanderbilt men’s basketball program into the future,” Stackhouse notes. “Stability and commitment are concepts in college athletics that are hard to come by these days. I feel very fortunate to be at Vanderbilt, where stability and commitment are part of our culture from Chancellor Diermeier to Dr. Lee on down.

“With this new contract, they continue to show the confidence in my tremendous staff and myself,” he continues. “Through Vandy United, our community and athletic department has made tremendous commitments to the future of our athletic landscape through the establishment of new facilities and the investment and improvement of existing ones.”

Off the court, Vanderbilt has had two SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners, including current senior Jordan Wright in 2022. In total, Vanderbilt has produced 18 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections in Stackhouse’s three seasons. The Commodores have been active in the community throughout his tenure, supporting Vanderbilt University’s Next Steps program, Habitat for Humanity, Turner’s Heroes and local elementary schools.

“This is an unprecedented time in Vanderbilt Athletics history and bright days are ahead for Vanderbilt Basketball,” Stackhouse adds. “We are continuing to climb forward and look forward to building on the momentum and confidence we’ve generated over the past three years. Thank you again. Anchor Down!”

Prior to Vanderbilt, Stackhouse served as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies, which was preceded by two seasons as head coach of the NBA G League’s Raptors 905. As head coach, Stackhouse earned NBA G League Coach of the Year honors after he steered the team to a 39-11 regular season record and 6-1 playoff record in 2016-17, en route to the team’s first NBA G League championship. The following season, Stackhouse led the Raptors 905 to a 31-19 regular season record and a second straight appearance in the NBA G League Finals.

Stackhouse received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina in the fall of 1999, and completed the Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports at the Harvard Business School executive education program in 2017.

Steven Boero