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College Football Notebook: Schiano receives extension
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On the heels of historic back-to-back bowl seasons, Rutgers rewarded coach Greg Schiano with a four-year contract extension yesterday that will increase his annual pay by nearly a half.
It was the second time in less than two years that the school extended Schiano's contract -- he had received a seven-year extension in December 2005. The new deal runs through 2016 and increases his annual compensation package from about $1 million to $1.5 million.
A former assistant at Miami, Schiano was rumored to be the top candidate to replace fired Larry Coker there, but took his name out of consideration in December. It was around that time that Rutgers officials approached him, he said.
Schiano almost certainly would have made more money at Miami, which was paying Coker about $2 million annually.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that our university didn't want to be the very best," Schiano said. "There's a committed group of people who want to take the program to the very top. Certainly it's not a money issue, because if it was a money issue I wouldn't be here. This is where I want to be."
Schiano, hired in 2000, orchestrated Rutgers' rise from one of Division I-A's worst programs to a top-10 team last season. He led the Scarlet Knights to their first bowl appearance in 27 years in 2005 and its first bowl win last season.
Last season, Rutgers won its first nine games, rose to a No. 7 ranking, the highest in school history, in The Associated Press poll and defeated Kansas State, 37-10, in the Texas Bowl. The Scarlet Knights finished 11-2 and were within a triple-overtime loss at West Virginia of playing in a Bowl Championship Series game bowl.
Rutgers went 7-5 and reached the Insight Bowl in 2005. In the eight seasons before Schiano arrived, Rutgers was 9-46-1 in the Big East Conference. In the past two seasons they were 9-5 in the conference.
West Virginia
Coach Rich Rodriguez yesterday announced that his staff has received a letter of intent from Washington, D.C.-area linebacker Pat Lazear, who pleaded guilty in December to a conspiracy charge stemming from a March 2006 robbery of a Bethesda, Md., health-drink store.
Lazear, who after his arrest was forced by Montgomery County officials to transfer from Whitman to Wheaton High School in Maryland, was an all-metropolitan selection and team captain who compiled 125 tackles and forced nine fumbles as a senior. His sentencing included 10 days in jail, 30 days in house arrest and a 10-year suspended sentence. According to The Washington Post, he was sentenced to 90 days of court supervision after a November 2004 incident in which he used a stolen credit card to buy $130 tennis shoes.
Rick Gilliam, a former standout offensive lineman at West Virginia University, died Wednesday at his home in Carlisle, Pa. He was 29. Gilliam appeared to have suffered a heart attack, his mother-in-law, Gretchen Naugle, said.
Boise State
Boise State's thrilling Fiesta Bowl victory against Oklahoma put coach Chris Petersen on the verge of earning $1 million a year -- if his Broncos can continue their success. Details of Petersen's proposed five-year, $4.25 million contract have been posted on the state board of education's Web site. The deal calls for Petersen to receive an annual base salary of $850,000. If the Broncos win 12 games, he will receive an additional $161,500. Another $100,000 will be added if the team wins a BCS game.
Minnesota
Former Michigan secondary coach Ronnie Lee was hired to coach the defensive backs at Minnesota, rounding out new coach Tim Brewster's staff. Lee coached the secondary and punt return team at Michigan last season.
Oklahoma State
Tim Beckman left Ohio State to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Beckman spent the past two seasons as cornerbacks coach with the Buckeyes, who lost to Florida, 41-14, in the Bowl Championship Series national title game. He replaces Vance Bedford, who took a job as Michigan's secondary coach after two seasons leading Oklahoma State's defense.
First Published February 17, 2007 12:00 am
