Cincinnati extends Fickell through 2026
Cincinnati approved a four-year contract extension for head coach Luke Fickell that runs through the 2026 season, according to Justin Williams of The Athletic.
The deal was reportedly outlined in February and will pay Fickell $3.4 million per year, a $1-million raise from the salary in his original contract.
The extension also apparently increases Fickell's annual salary pool for assistant coaches and staff members to $3.85 million after it was set at $2.5 million in 2017.
"This is an important item for the Bearcats athletic department," Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham said Tuesday. "We have an opportunity to extend the contract of one of the best football coaches in the country. This increase and extension reflects the passion of our supporters, who see the impact that a football coach can have on the young people within a program, the athletic department and the university as a whole."
Fickell reportedly turned down an offer to coach Michigan State this offseason after leading Cincinnati to its second straight bowl victory.
The buyout if the 47-year-old leaves for another job before Jan. 1, 2021, reportedly increased to $4 million and will fall by $500,000 annually. The university would owe him $23.8 million should it terminate him without cause before January 2021, according to Williams, and that amount will decrease by $3.4 million a year.
The former Ohio State defensive coordinator and interim head coach joined the Bearcats prior to the 2017 season and has posted a 26-13 overall record with the school.
Cincinnati was ranked 20th in the Associated Press preseason poll.