UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury announced Tuesday that head baseball coach Terry Rooney has agreed to a contract extension that will keep the fifth-year coach in the UCF dugout through the 2017 season.

“Terry has done a great job in establishing a program that consistently competes at the highest level and pushes his young men to become leaders both on and off the field,” Stansbury said.

Since taking over prior to the 2009 campaign, Rooney has turned the Knights into one of the nation’s top programs. After reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2011 for the first time since 2004, Rooney’s 2012 squad advanced to the Coral Gables Regional championship game and was ranked in the top 25 every week, including a stop as high as No. 7.

“I would like to thank Todd Stansbury for providing me the opportunity to continue to lead the UCF baseball program,” Rooney said. “I have been extremely fortunate to work alongside a tremendous group of assistant coaches, administrators, support staff and players. We will continue to work together in solidifying UCF among the nation’s elite programs.”

Players under Rooney’s tutelage have been ultra-successful on and off the field. In the last three seasons, five players have earned All-American honors while 17 Knights since 2009 have signed professional contracts. Rooney’s student-athletes have also been diligent in the classroom with an average of 22 making the annual Conference USA Honor Roll.