LAKE CHARLES - Three head coaches – football's Matt Viator, men's basketball's Dave Simmons, and women's basketball's Brooks Donald Williams – have all signed a three-year contract extension at McNeese the school announced on Tuesday.
 
It's the first time in school history three coaches have signed extensions at the same time and is believed to be one of the few, if not the first time, it's happened in Southland Conference history.
 
"These coaches have continued to make strides in these programs not only with the continuation of a winning tradition, but have also established a culture where our student athletes have progressed academically," said athletic director Bruce Hemphill. "We're dedicated to keeping these coaches here long term and to show their importance to the McNeese athletic department."
 
"There aren't three individuals more deserving of this agreement. It's a strong indication of our commitment to continue to build on an already strong foundation."
 
Viator is entering his 10^th season at the helm of the football program and is the only coach in Southland Conference history to never post a losing season with a minimum of eight years under his belt.
 
During his time, he's led the Cowboys to three conference championships (2006, 2007, 2009), four playoff appearances (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013), named league coach of the year twice (2006, 2007), and a two-time Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award finalist (2006, 2013).
 
In 2014, he passed Jack Doland to become the school's second-winningest coach in school history and will enter the season with a 68-32 mark, 10 wins shy of matching record holder Bobby Keasler's 78 career wins.
 
During his time, he's coached 126 all-conference selections; 22 all-Louisiana selections; 34 all-America selections; five academic all-Americans; three league players of the year; two offensive players of the year; one defensive player of the year; one offensive lineman of the year; two rookies of the year; one newcomer of the year
 
Donald-Williams has guided the Cowgirl basketball team to five straight national postseason tournaments, including two NCAA tourney appearances (2010-11, 2011-12) and a championship game appearance in the 2013 WBI Tournament.
 
She's posted a 141-117 career record in eight seasons as head coach, including a 110-48 record over the last five years for a winning percentage of .696 and with an average of 22 wins a season. She became the school's all-time winningest coach this past season.
 
Her 2010-11 team set a school record with 26 wins, then matched that mark the very next season. Here 2011 squad won the league's regular season championship with the 2011 and 2012 teams won tournament titles.
 
She's coached 16 all-conference selections during her time; 13 all-Louisiana selections; one league newcomer of the year; seven all-tournament selections; four Southland Conference Student-Athletes of the Year; one player, NeTanya Jones, who was named to the 2014 Allstate WBCA Goodworks Team; and was named coach of the year in 2011.
 
Simmons, who will be entering his 10^th season at McNeese, is the first coach in school history to take his team to back-to-back national postseason tournaments (2011 NIT; 2012 CBI).
 
During his time at McNeese, he's won 127 games and passed Wayne Cusic last season to become the program's third winningest coach in history (Glenn Duhon, 155; Ralph Ward, 282).
 
Simmons has coached 11 all-conference selections; three all-defensive team selection; the 2012 conference player of the year (Patrick Richard); and an AP All-American (Richard).
 
He's led the Cowboys to five straight conference postseason tournaments and played in the title game in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The 2011 team won the conference regular season championship. It was the first league title for McNeese since the 2002 year.
 
In the 2012-13 season, Simmons coached the Cowboys to a Southland Conference first when the team won its 300^th all-time conference game to become the first team in league history to reach the milestone.
 
Simmons was named the LABC Tommy Joe Eagles Award recipient for both the 2011 and 2012 seasons and garnered the 2011 conference and Louisiana coach of the year award.