A share of back-to-back Mid-American Conference West Division titles has earned Central Michigan University men's basketball coach Ernie Zeigler a payday.

Zeigler and CMU AD Dave Heeke have reached a verbal agreement on an incentive-laden, four-year contract extension, worth $200,000 next season a source close to the situation told Journal Register Company's CMU beat writer Drew Ellis of the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun. Read his blog entry here.

While the Chippewas' season ended with a MAC tournament loss to rival Western Michigan there's been little of the drama associated with the tenure of Zeigler's predecessor, Jay Smith. Smith's time at CMU was highlighted by a run to the second round of the NCAA tournament, led by eventual NBA lottery pick Chris Kaman, but there was also a tremendous yo-yo effect. In a four-year span, the Chippewas went worst-to-first-to-worst-to-first.

Not exactly the definition of consistency.

The biggest drama this spring has been whether or not Zeigler would be able to talk his own son, coveted swingman recruit Trey Zeigler, to play for him at CMU. The younger Zeigler is ranked the No. 4 shooting guard in the 2010 class by Rivals.com.

Even if Trey doesn't choose to stick around Mt. Pleasant another four years (heck, he grew up in LA, when his father was an assistant at UCLA), the Chippewa program seems to be in good hands with his father. Trey Zeigler is uncommitted heading into the regular signing period next week, but CMU already has commitments from four players — Detroit Loyola C Jevon Harden, Grand Haven C Nate VanArendonk, East Grand Rapids PF Colin Voss and Cleveland Benedictine SG Derek Jackson.