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The Phoenix Suns on Wednesday signed Mike D'Antoni to a two-year contract extension. He will remain head coach of the Suns through the 2006-07 season.

"Mike did an outstanding job teaching, developing and motivating our young core this last season," said President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. "Mike's basketball knowledge and communication skills make him a valuable asset for this organization."

The 12th head coach in club history, 53-year-old D'Antoni has been in basketball for 31 years, as a player, coach, front office executive and scout in the NBA, ABA and the Italian League. He coached the Denver Nuggets in the NBA shortened-lockout season in 1998-99 and was the club's director of player personnel in 1997-98. D'Antoni was also an assistant coach with Portland in the 2000-01 season and was a scout with the San Antonio Spurs during the 1999-00 season.

Prior to joining the Suns staff on June 25, 2002 as the top assistant coach, D'Antoni coached Benetton Treviso of the Italian League to a 28-8 season and the Italian League championship. He is the sixth Suns head coach who started as an assistant with the team.

An Italian League legend, D'Antoni also coached Benetton from 1994-97 when his team captured the Cup of Europe and Cup of Italy in 1995 and won the league title in 1996-97 after a 22-4 regular season. Prior to that he guided Philips Milan for four seasons from 1990-94 and led the club to the 1993 Korac Cup. During his Italian League tenure, D'Antoni led his teams to the playoffs each season and was twice voted the league's Coach of the Year.

D'Antoni - a dual citizen of the United States and Italy - was an All-NBA Rookie Second Team choice in 1974 after the Kansas City-Omaha Kings selected him with the 20th pick in the 1973 NBA Draft.

D'Antoni then moved to Italy where he played 13 seasons for Milan and became the club's all-time leading scorer. He was voted the league's top point guard of all time in 1990 and he paced his team to five Italian League titles, two Cups of Europe, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.

A native of Mullens, West Virginia, D'Antoni played collegiately at Marshall University and graduated as the school's career assist leader in 1973. His father, Lewis, was a legendary high school basketball coach in West Virginia and Ohio. D'Antoni and his wife Laurel have one son, Michael.

D'Antoni then moved to Italy where he played 13 seasons for Milan and became the club's all-time leading scorer. He was voted the league's top point guard of all time in 1990 and he paced his team to five Italian League titles, two Cups of Europe, two Cups of Italy, one Korac Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.

A native of Mullens, West Virginia, D'Antoni played collegiately at Marshall University and graduated as the school's career assist leader in 1973. His father, Lewis, was a legendary high school basketball coach in West Virginia and Ohio. D'Antoni and his wife Laurel have one son, Michael.