Auburn's Chizik gets hefty pay raise, extension

 

AUBURN, AL  Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is getting a pay raise and a contract extension after taking his football team to the BCS National Championship game.
Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said Friday that Chizik's pay will be increased to $3.5 million per year, up from $2.1 million last year, and his contract will be extended through 2015.
With incentives, Chizik could earn up to $4.5 million a year under the amended contract. The 2010 National Coach of the Year, Chizik has guided Auburn to a 22-5 record in his two seasons.
"We will continue to provide Coach Chizik and our football program the resources needed to build a strong foundation so that we can consistently compete for championships in the future," Jacobs said. "We look forward to Coach Chizik being our coach at Auburn for a long, long time."
Auburn's national championship was the program's first since 1957, while its Southeastern Conference title in 2010 was the school's seventh conference crown.
"I want to thank President Gogue and Jay Jacobs for their leadership and vision and believing in the direction that we have established for the Auburn football program," Chizik said. "I deeply appreciate their commitment to me and to the future of Auburn football. The success that we've accomplished in the past two seasons has been possible because of the collective efforts of the football coaches and staff, players, our administration and the entire Auburn Family.  We will continue to work tirelessly to build the foundation of the Auburn football program so that we can compete for championships regularly."
Auburn starts the 2011 season on September 3 against Utah State. The game will be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Auburn Athletics