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New Jersey Nets Head Coach Lawrence Frank has signed a multi-year contract extension, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“ We are very pleased that Lawrence has agreed to coach the Nets not only for this year, but for the foreseeable future,” said Thorn. “ Lawrence proved last season that he has the basketball acumen and work ethic which defines quality professional coaches.”

“ I want to thank the Nets ownership, Rod Thorn, Ed Stefanski, our past and present players and staff as well as all the coaches I have worked for during my college and professional career. I also would like to thank my wife and my family for their support,” said Frank. “Although some of the names on the back of the jersey’s have changed in recent months, the front still says ‘Nets,’ and we will continue to give the fans the only style we know how to play, the unselfish, teammate- first brand of basketball that characterizes the New Jersey Nets.”

Frank was named the Nets’ head coach on June 21, 2004, after being tabbed as the interim head coach on January 26, 2004. Prior to his initial head coaching appointment, Frank had spent three and a half seasons as an assistant coach for the Nets.

Frank began his NBA coaching career in record-setting style, as he went 13-0 from January 27-February 24, which set a new NBA mark for the most consecutive wins by a head coach to begin a coaching career. The 13-game winning streak was also the longest winning streak of any coach in any of the four major professional sports to begin a career. During the streak, the Nets won six consecutive games on the road, which gave Frank the mark for the most wins by a head coach on the road at the outset of their coaching career. During the first full month of his coaching regime (February), Frank led the Nets to an 11-2 record, which earned him recognition as the Eastern Conference ‘Coach of the Month.’ The 11-2 mark also established a Nets franchise mark for winning percentage in a month with an .846 mark.

A native of Teaneck, New Jersey, Frank spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Grizzlies under Brian Hill. Frank’s responsibilities with the Grizzlies included scouting upcoming opponents as well as practice and bench coaching duties.

Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Frank served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for three seasons under Head Coach Kevin O’Neill. Frank first worked with O’Neill as a staff assistant at Marquette in 1992 and during his tenure, helped lead the Marquette Warriors to two NCAA tournament berths and a Sweet 16 appearance in 1994.

Frank earned his B.S. in education from Indiana University in 1992, where he spent four seasons as a manager for the Hoosier basketball team led by Bob Knight. He also holds an M.S. in education administration from Marquette.