It was considered a foregone conclusion, but it’s now official.

Gary Graham will be back as the Komets’ coach.

He made the announcement on the “Sports Rush” radio show on WKJG on Wednesday.

“I’m very happy to say that my contract has been extended, so I will be the Komets’ coach next year,” he told host Brett Rump.

Graham, who has a regular-season record of 169-84-35, a playoff record of 27-22 and has won 5 of 9 postseason series, guided the Komets into the North Division finals this season before the five-game loss to the Toledo Walleye.

Graham, who was an assistant coach with the Komets from 2009 to 2012, has been the head coach for three seasons. He led the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Pensacola Ice Flyers to a championship as a head coach in 2013.

In the wake of the loss to Toledo, general manager David Franke had made it clear he wanted Graham back after making the playoffs all three years with him as head coach.

Graham is a native of Fort Wayne.

jcohn@jg.net