Travis Taylor | Lariat Photo Editor
By Parmida Schahhosseini
Sports Writer
Baylor football is off to a historic 8-0 start and it doesn’t look like Baylor is ready to slow down anytime soon.
Despite the uncertainty around the Big 12, Baylor head coach Art Briles’ position at Baylor is cemented with a 10-year contract extension, which was approved by the regents Wednesday night.
Associate athletic director Heath Nielsen told the Lariat in an email, “We don’t set up interviews inquiring about confidential coaching contracts.”
“Art Briles and Baylor are a wonderful fit,” athletic director Ian McCaw told the Waco Tribune-Herald. “We are grateful for his long-term commitment and desire to lead Baylor football forward for many years to come. Baylor Nation is indebted to Coach Briles for his vision, passion and dedication to rebuilding Baylor football and turning it into a destination job.”
The numbers of the new contract have not been disclosed, but under the previous deal, Briles was set to average $3.5 annually. In 2012, Briles made $2.4 million, which is a significant raise from the $1.5 million he made in 2010 according to the 990 tax forms Baylor filed with the IRS.
Prior to this extension, Briles was the 34th highest paid college coach, and the 8 highest paid coach in the Big 12.
According to USA Today, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is the highest paid coach in college football at $5.5 million, but Texas Head Coach Mack Brown is right behind him making $5.4 million.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops makes $4.7 million, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy makes $3.4 million, TCU head coach Gary Patterson makes $3.1 million, Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder makes $2.8 million, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen makes $2.6 million and Kansas head coach Charlie Weis makes $2.5 million.
When Briles arrived to Baylor, the program had suffered its 12th losing season.
After back-to-back 4-8 seasons, Briles’ revival began.
In 2010 Baylor went to the Texas Bowl, its first bowl berth since 1994.
The following year, Briles followed it with a 10-3 campaign, propelling quarterback Robert Griffin III to become the first Baylor player to win the Heisman.
On Nov 17, 2012, Baylor played its most complete game, with a 52-24 win over Kansas State, and the Bears haven’t lost since.
“We’ve got a lot of bridges to cross. We feel like we’re in the infant stages of our program, without question,” Briles told the Associated Press. “That’s what makes it exciting.”
Briles is the first head coach to take the Bears to three straight bowl games. Making the bowl is no longer a goal, but an expectation.
With four games left, Baylor hopes to go undefeated and get a BCS bowl berth.
“To his credit, Art’s created something here that’s really special and we hope he’s going to see it through to the final line,” McCaw told the Associated Press.
This story was updated on Nov. 14 to include Baylor’s statement to The Lariat.
