Coastal gives Gilmore new contract

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) After its fifth straight NCAA tournament appearance, Coastal Carolina rewarded baseball coach Gary Gilmore with a new four-year contract.<br> <br> The pact was announced Thursday. Coastal Carolina athletic director Warren ``Moose&#39;&#39; Koegel said the deal includes automatic rollovers and an incentive plan, starting with next season.<br> <br> In Gilmore&#39;s 10 years as head coach, he has turned Coastal into one of the state&#39;s most successful baseball programs. The school has won at least 40 games in six of the past seven seasons.<br> <br> This past spring, the Chants had a school-record 50 victories this season and were the top seed of the NCAA tournament baseball regional that was played in Tempe, Ariz. They advanced to the championship game against Arizona State before falling.<br> <br> Gilmore played center field for the Chants in the 1979 and 1980 seasons.<br> <br> ``There is a special tie here between myself and this university and I hope we can be successful enough over the next 10 years that the university will keep me on as their baseball coach,&#39;&#39; Gilmore said. ``I am very committed to that.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)