Columbus Crew coach Gregg Berhalter signs multi-year contract extension

Columbus Crew head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter has signed a multi-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.

"I am proud to be part of this club and I am grateful to the players for their hard work, bravery and commitment to our style of play," Berhalter said in a statement. "My family and I are extremely happy in Columbus and are touched by the support of the city and the fans. We look forward to continued improvement in 2016 and I am honored to call this club home."

Berhalter's previous deal ran until the end of the 2017 campaign; his new contract will see him stay with the club for at least two years more, though exact terms of the deal were not revealed.

Statistically, Berhalter has enjoyed tremendous success with the club, posting the highest points-earned percentage of any head coach in club history - a respectable 51.5.

He signs this contract extension with full mind towards another go at the MLS Cup, as he guided his team to a spot in the 2015 MLS Cup finals but lost to the Portland Timbers.

Crew chariman Anthony Precourt called the contract extension a "critical priority" for the club, saying that the team's rebuilding efforts have been focused on "building a sustainable culture and a highly professional way of conducting our business on and off the field.

"We aim for a consistent quality product, where we are in a position to make a playoff run each season. ... We are thrilled to have Gregg and the world-class coaching and administrative staff he has assembled lead us forward into 2016 and beyond," said Precourt.

"Our results over Gregg's first two seasons speak for themselves. Onward and upward."