UIC extends soccer coach's contract

University of Illinois-Chicago men's soccer coach John Trask has signed a four-year contract extension.

The new deal keeps Trask at UIC through the 2011 campaign, UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt announced Tuesday.

"I hope that what we've achieved thus far is only the beginning of making UIC men's soccer a national brand," said Trask. "Many people thought that my time at UIC would be brief, but we've only just begun to realize the potential of this great University. With the continued support of the UIC athletic department, my staff and I believe that many more great things lie ahead for this program."

The UIC men's soccer program has thrived under Trask's direction the past three seasons. In 2007, the Flames won the Horizon League Championship and went on to advance past three straight nationally-ranked foes en route to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history. UIC earned a pair of Top 10 end-of-season national rankings.

Trask is 36-14-13 in his three years at UIC.

"John Trask has taken the men's soccer program to unprecedented heights," said Schmidt. "Coach Trask has put UIC on the national soccer map and has done so in a short amount of time, and we are extremely excited about his commitment to UIC and continuing the program's rise into becoming a consistent NCAA Tournament participant."