Saying he has “a lot of gas left in my tank,” Northern Colorado men’s basketball coach Steve Smiley expressed plenty of joy to continue his work with the Bears for an additional three years.

Smiley, 44 and the program’s winningest head coach in the Division I era, earned a contract raise and extension Friday. The UNC board of trustees approved a new deal keeping Smiley in Greeley through 2030.

Smiley will start his sixth season this year. His overall record is 89-71 with two seasons of 20 or more wins.

“I’m really excited,” Smiley said early Friday afternoon. “I’m really excited to keep building this and I’m appreciative of the university support. It’s huge they can get behind us. None of it is possible if you don’t have support from the top. It helps when people in the program know you

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