The Los Angeles Clippers exercised their option and retained Vinny Del Negro for another year after the head coach guided the Clippers to the best record in franchise history.
Del Negro led the Clippers to a 40-26 record and took them to the second round for the first time in six years, where they were swept by the unbeaten San Antonio Spurs. The club did not give out details of the deal.
"The success of the season made us exercise his option," Neil Olshey, Clippers vice president of basketball operations, said on the team's website.
"I think we had an abbreviated camp, an abbreviated season, we had a new roster and we ended up with the best record in franchise history.
"We also went into the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2006. I think the team got better later than in the beginning and I think we seek continued growth and improvement under the tutelage of Vinny."
After a disappointing 2010-11season, Del Negro turned it around for the Clippers.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue the plan we set in place," Del Negro was quoted as saying on ESPN.com. "I give the players a lot of credit for playing hard and believing in what we were trying to do. I appreciate their effort and my staff's effort."
Olshey said he expected the Clippers to be even more successful next year.
"There is definitely room for improvement next season. Our defense has got to improve, we have to improve our rebounding differential. The development of our younger players can accelerate."
"This was a successful season. I mean, it ended earlier than we would have liked. We ran into a formidable team that was San Antonio, I think given a different seeding, we could still be playing right now.
"We're a playoff team, not just the first round. We expect to advance and play a lot more in May and June next year."
