Richt Receives 8-Year Contract Through 2013

ATHENS - An eight year contract at $2 million per year has been approved for University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt by the executive committee of the UGA Athletic Association Board of Directors.

The executive committee met Wednesday in Athens and approved the contract that will run through Dec. 31, 2013. His current contract would have expired Dec. 31, 2010.

"Mark has done a magnificent job since taking over our football program," said UGA Director of Athletics Damon Evans. "This contract will put him in the upper echelon of coaches in the SEC and nationally as well. This confirms our commitment to him and our program for many years to come and we are grateful to the Athletic Board for its support."

"I'm pleased and appreciative of the administration extending the contract," said Richt. "It says that the University wants us to be at Georgia and this is certainly where my family wants to be. I've been very blessed with a great staff and players during the past five years as well as tremendous support from our University and athletic administration, fans, and student body. We're looking forward to working together for many years to come."

Mark Richt just completed a record-run that resulted in the Bulldogs' second SEC championship and third SEC Eastern Division title in the last four years. He became one of only five head coaches in SEC history to win ten games four consecutive years and one of only six coaches in league history to win two SEC championships in his first five years. In addition, he's one of only nine head coaches in NCAA Division I history to win 50 or more games in his first five seasons. The Bulldogs have finished in the nation¹s top ten rankings four straight years. Following the 2005 season, Richt was named SEC Coach of the Year for the second time in the last four years.