CMU Head Coach Butch Jones
Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones has signed a two-year contract extension that is designed to keep the first-year head coach of the two-time defending Mid-American Conference champion Chippewas under contract for the next five seasons.
The new contract lasts through the 2012 season and replaces the four-year contract Jones originally signed when he was named CMU's head coach in January of 2007.
Beginning with the 2008 season, Jones’ base salary will increase to $265,000 per year. He will be compensated $25,000 for radio and television appearances with a $2,500 annual increase through 2012. Jones also will receive 20 percent of the net profit of CMU’s summer football camps for the duration of the contract.
Incentives are included for winning the Mid-American Conference West Division, the MAC Championship Game, and/or a bowl game. The deal also includes a pair of retention clauses that reward Jones with payments of $40,000 for remaining at CMU through both 2010 and 2012. Among other incentives in the contract are bonuses for high Kelly/Shorts Stadium attendance and victories per season.
Jones, who led Central Michigan to an 8-6 finish in his first year as the head coach at CMU, was thought to be among the leading candidates to become the next head coach at West Virginia after the University of Michigan hired former Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez to take over for the retiring Lloyd Carr. Jones was interviewed twice by West Vriginia officials, the most recent being the day after the Chippewas' appearance in the 2007 Motor City Bowl, a 51-48 loss to Purdue.
Prior to becoming head coach at Central Michigan, Jones was wide receivers coach for two seasons at West Virginia under Rich Rodriguez. Jones also spent three years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan before joining Rodriguez's staff in West Virginia.
Jones confirmed the contract extension to the Associated Press. In discussing his contract extension, Jones told the Associated Press, "I'm really excited about staying at Central Michigan. I take it as a compliment that West Virginia showed interest in me but at this time I am not looking to go anywhere."
Jones guided Central Michigan to a 7-1 record in the Mid-American Conference and led the Chippewas to their second consecutive MAC title and appearance in the Motor City Bowl.
Last season head coach Brian Kelly left Central Michigan just before CMU's appearance in the 2006 Motor City Bowl to accept the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati.
Meanwhile West Virginia has announced that assistant coach Bill Stewart, who led the Mountaineers to a 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl as interim head coach, will assume the title of head coach as the permanent replacement for Rodriguez.
Offical press releases and wire service reports also contributed to this story.
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