PITTSBURGH — Duquesne basketball coach Ron Everhart was rewarded for turning around one of the nation's worst Division I basketball programs in only two seasons, signing a three-year contract extension Wednesday that runs through the 2013-14 season.

Duquesne hadn't had a winning season since 1993-94 before it went 17-13 last season, only two seasons after the Dukes were 3-24 under former coach Danny Nee. Everhart's first Dukes team went 10-19 in 2006-07, despite having five players shot following an on-campus party two months before the season began.

Everhart also has significantly upgraded the Dukes' recruiting, signing players who were recruited not only by other Atlantic 10 Conference programs but also Big East Conference schools.

Recent signees include B.J. Monteiro, the Connecticut high school player of the year; Aleksandar Milovic, a highly sought European swingman; and Rodrigo Peggau, a promising power forward. The Dukes also signed Melquan Bolding, a 6-foot-4 prep school swingman who initially committed to Louisville.

"I'm fortunate to be part of a program here at Duquesne that has been given a strong commitment for excellence by the administration," Everhart said. "We have a commitment that allows us to compete at the highest level of the Atlantic 10."

Duquesne president Charles J. Dougherty and athletic director Greg Amodio both praised Everhart for his strong work ethic and for revitalizing a long-dormant program.

Dougherty praised Everhart for making Duquesne more competitive and for the way he steered the program through a difficult time following the shootings of players Sam Ashaolu, Stuard Baldonado, Kojo Mensah, Shawn James and Aaron Jackson.

"I witnessed firsthand the great care Ron showed for our students after the shootings in '06," Dougherty said in a statement issued by the school. "I already knew Ron had the talent to be a great head coach. I realized then that Ron also had the values to be a great head coach for Duquesne University."