AUSTIN (AP) -Texas coach Mack Brown on Tuesday got a two-year contract extension, a raise and a pair of hefty bonuses to come later. He also got a promise of a good job if he ever decides to quit coaching the Longhorns.
University of Texas Regents unanimously agreed to extend Brown's contract by two years through the 2016 season, boosting his salary from $2.66 million to $2.91 million, including a special payment of $100,000 to be paid Saturday, the day No. 4 Texas opens the season at home against Arkansas State.
Like his original contract, he gets $100,000 annual raises that will push him past $3 million next year.
Brown, who turned 56 on Monday, also gets a $1 million bonus if he stays through next season and cashes in again with a $2 million bonus if he's still here Jan. 1, 2010.
``I appreciate the university and the Board of Regents' confidence in me and our staff,'' Brown said in a statement.
Another major change in Brown's contract calls for him to be reassigned to another ``significant position'' at Texas if he steps down from coaching. Brown was Tulane's athletic director in two of his three seasons coaching the Green Wave from 1985-87.
Texas won the 2005 national championship and Brown is 93-22 heading into his 10th season in Austin. The Longhorns were 10-3 last season with a win over Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.
``He brought new life to our program and he's done it with great integrity and class,'' athletic director DeLoss Dodds said. ``He is who we want at Texas for the long term.''
The regents also boosted several incentives, including winning the Big 12 South Division and the conference title, high graduation rates and a $450,000 bonus if Texas wins another national championship.
UT officials noted that Brown's salary is paid with money raised by the athletic department, not state tax funds.
Brown had agreed to his current 10-year contract days before Texas beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2004 season.
The motion for a new deal approved by regents Tuesday said Texas wants to pay a competitive salary ``for one of the few most accomplished and recognized coaches in intercollegiate sports'' and to discourage other colleges or professional teams from trying to lure Brown away.
``Mack Brown is the right person to be our head football coach,'' university president William Powers said. ``Mack is in high demand around the country, and it is critical that we have a salary strategy to keep him here.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
