Strong's U of L Contract Extension, Pay Raise Approved

The University of Louisville has approved an eight-year contract extension for football coach Charlie Strong.

The deal will pay Strong an annual base salary of $3.7 million, plus numerous performance bonuses, making him one of the country’s highest-paid college football coaches.

U of L Athletic Director Tom Jurich says Strong deserves it.

"I think he’s already lived up to it and earned it and in every aspect of his coaching ability, he’s got an A+ from me," he said. 

Strong's third season with Louisville ended with an upset of Florida in the Sugar Bowl three weeks ago. The 11 and 2 Cardinals were ranked the 13th in the final poll and won a share of the Big East Conference championship for the second straight year.

The deal comes more than a month after the 52-year-old Strong rejected an offer to become Tennessee's coach, saying he was staying because of Louisville's commitment to him and his relationship with players.