A decade in and the JR Payne era isn’t slowing down.

Colorado athletics director Fernando Lovo said Wednesday the Buffaloes are extending the longtime women’s basketball’s coach’s contract through the 2030-31 season.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to sign a new contract to remain the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Colorado,” Payne said. “I am incredibly grateful to Chancellor (Justin) Schwartz, the Board of Regents, as well as Fernando Lovo and Rick George for their trust, belief, and continued support of our program.

“CU is a truly special place, and I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish together — both on the court and in the classroom. Our student-athletes continue to represent this university with excellence, character and pride. I’m excited for what lies ahead and look forward to continuing to build something meaningful for our program, our university and the Boulder community.”

The Buffs are 20-10 this season and set to enter the Big 12 tournament as the No. 6 seed following an 11-7 record in conference play. CU faces the winner of No. 11 Kansas and No. 14 Central Florida on Thursday (7 p.m. ESPN+) with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

According to ESPN’s “Bracketology,” the Buffs are projected to be one of the last four teams to make the NCAA Tournament, which would be a fourth trip to March Madness under Payne and a fourth in the last five seasons. CU made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2022-24 and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2023 and 2024.

The 2025-26 season marks the program’s fifth straight with 20-plus wins, the longest streak since iconic coach Ceal Barry guided the Buffs to six straight seasons of 20-plus wins from 1991-97.

Payne, who was hired in 2016, is the second-longest tenured coach in CU women’s basketball history behind Barry (22 seasons).

Should Payne finish out the newest contract extension, she will have been in charge of the program for 15 seasons. She boasts a record of 184-126, the second-most wins in program history, again behind Barry (427 wins).

“Coach Payne has been the model of consistently sustained excellence here at Colorado, and I’m thrilled that she will be leading our program for years to come,” Lovo said. “Coach Payne’s teams embody her personality of grit, resilience, toughness and integrity, but this extension is also emblematic of her role as a tremendous leader and mentor for our student-athletes.”