The contract of Steve Pikiell, head coach of the Stony Brook University men’s basketball team, has been extended through the 2015-16 season, athletic director Jim Fiore said on Thursday.

“Coach Pikiell and his staff have developed and built Stony Brook University men’s basketball into an upper echelon program within the America East Conference,” Fiore said. “Steve has proven himself to be a talented recruiter and mentor to our student-athletes, and he embodies the core values we endeavor to teach our student-athletes both on and off the court.”

Pikiell has brought about Stony Brook men’s basketball’s first run of success as a Division I program, bringing the Seawolves their first regular season championship and NIT tournament appearance in the 2009-10 season and first America East Championship final this past season. The 2009-10 team set a Seawolves record for overall wins with 22 and conference wins with 13.

“I am honored and grateful for the continued opportunity to coach at such a distinguished institution that has so much to offer its student-athletes,” Pikiell remarked. “I want to thank Jim Fiore, President Stanley and the entire Stony Brook administration for their commitment and confidence in the plan we have put in place to develop Stony Brook men’s basketball.

Over the past three seasons, Pikiell’s Seawolves have gone 29-19 in the regular season conference play, third in that time span behind the last two conference champions, Vermont in 2010 and Boston University in 2011.

Pikiell has earned his share of accolades as well. CollegeInsider.com named him the 2008-9 America East Coach of the Year. The conference itself and Sporting News named him America East Coach of the Year for the 2009-10 season. For the same year, the 2010 Metropolitan Writers named him Coach of the Year, and the Times Village Herald Man of the Year.

Pikiell will look to add a conference championship to his growing Stony Brook resume next season, a journey  which four the current five starters will return for.