NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Belmont coach Rick Byrd agreed to a five-year contract extension to stay with the school he has led into three straight NCAA tournaments.

Belmont athletic director Mike Strickland made the announcement Tuesday. Terms of the agreement were not released.

Byrd has led Belmont to a league-record three consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference tournament titles, and the Bruins nearly upset Duke in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. The Blue Devils edged Belmont 71-70 after the Bruins blew a late lead.

With 541 wins, Byrd is one of 15 active Division I men's basketball coaches with 500 or more career victories.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.