WSU Extends Fredrick’s Contract Cougars Sign Up Their Highly Successful Volleyball Coach For $85,000 A Year

Washington State University women’s volleyball coach Cindy Fredrick has negotiated a contract extension through June of 2002.

Fredrick, on the third year of a five-year contract, agreed to the new contract Wednesday afternoon.

A source in the athletic department said Fredrick will earn $85,000 a year, comparable to WSU women’s basketball coach Harold Rhodes’ salary.

“It’s security for me and security for WSU, too. I think any coach at WSU would like a contract like that,” said Fredrick.

Fredrick, 44, has coached at WSU for eight seasons and has compiled a 158-106 record. This season, the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Stanford.

“They (WSU President Sam Smith and athletic director Rick Dickson) are putting me on the same sort of contract as the football and basketball coaches,” Fredrick said. “It says a lot for women’s athletics and female coaches.”

Washington State football coach Mike Price reportedly earns an annual base salary of $110,000 through 2000. Cougars men’s basketball coach Kevin Eastman, also signed through 2000, reportedly earns an annual base salary of $115,000.

“It goes a little bit against the gypsy in me because I’ve never stayed anywhere eight years,” said Fredrick. “But no other place interests me.”

Fredrick’s first head coaching job was at Weber State from 1985-89. She was named Pacific-10 Conference coach of the year in 1996.

“Cindy Fredrick embodies all the qualities you look for in any coach,” Dickson said last week while the school was ironing out the details of Fredrick’s contract. “One of the hallmarks of her program is the kind of women she’s brought to the program.”

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