Shackleford signs three-year extension

KENNEWICK – The Tri-Cities Fever signed head coach Adam Shackleford to a three-year contract extension that keeps him with the team through the 2013 season. Terms of the deal were not announced. But Shackleford is happy. “I’m excited about the three-year commitment,” he said in a phone interview while driving back to his Spokane home. “We’ve preached (to players about) stability. We’ve preached consistency. “I wanted to be back and I think it’s a great situation for me professionally,” he continued. “We have stabiliy in ownership here, and I think the IFL gives the coach and owner leniancy to work out a deal.” While the two parties were never far apart, the deal did take several weeks to put together. “We are excited to have him back,” Fever owner Teri Carr said. “For our organization to be successful we need to have stability, consistency and someone who can compete. The Fever have found that in Coach.” Carr said that there is a clause in the contract that allows Shackleford to leave the team for an opportunity to coach in the NFL, CFL or college level. “But he’s not going to leave for the AFL,” she said. “We asked him about that and he said he wasn’t interested.” The “three years” part of the deal means the team looks to be staying put. “I would say by doing (the three-year deal) we’re making a commitment,” Carr said. “Now, obviously, circumstances change. What happens if the arena can’t make a great renewal deal with us, for instance? But we’re making a commitment with this team.” Shackleford led the Fever to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007. In Shackleford’s first season in Tri-Cities, the Fever finished 7-7 during the regular season, winning six of its final eight games after a slow start. “We need to compete in the playoffs,” he said. “Just getting there is not acceptable anymore.”