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UAB announced Tuesday afternoon that head football coach Bill Clark had reached an agreement with the university on a 5-year contract extension to remain in his current role.
"My family and I want to thank UAB, Mark Ingram, Dr. Ray Watts and the Board of Trustees for their commitment to me as UAB's head football coach," Clark said in a statement released by the university. "We are doing this and doing it right - today's announcement sends that message loud and clear."
Clark's original contract at UAB was for three years at $500,000 per year. AL.com reports that his new salary will be between $600,000-$700,000 per year and all five years are guaranteed. There was speculation that Clark had only been offered a one-year extension over the past week. This announcement comes on the heels of the school reinstating the football program on June 1, and is the first tangible step to seeing the Blazers return to the field in 2016.
UAB athletic director Mark Ingram received negative feedback late last week, as it was made known that athletics administrator Shannon Ealy was no longer employed by the university. This move should help to put him back in the good graces of some fans.
"The university looks forward to the next phase of UAB Football. We will continue raising philanthropic support needed for facilities and will move forward with our plan to play a complete FBS schedule as a full member of Conference USA in 2017," Ingram said in the statement. "I am as happy as our fans, alumni, donors and community that Bill Clark will continue to be our coach. This is another day of celebration for UAB, with many more to come."
Clark guided UAB to a 6-6 record and gave fans a sense of pride about the school's football program in just a year's time. The team won five games in the two previous seasons combined preceding his arrival.
A pep rally and press conference is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at the Campus Green to generate excitement and celebrate the extension.
More details to come in the following days.