Leach’s contract extended through 2022

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor

WSU and football Head Coach Mike Leach agreed to a provision in his current contract that will keep him with the team for five more years and increase compensation for Leach and his assistant coaches beginning in 2018, according to a WSU Athletic Communications news release.

Leach will earn $3.5 million in 2018, $3.75 million in 2019 and $4 million each year from 2020-22 under the agreement. Following the 2020 season, Leach will also receive a one-time retention bonus of $750,000.

Before the provision to his contract, Leach earned an annual base salary of $3,075,000. Under the agreement, if Leach stays with the team through the 2022 season he is eligible to earn up to $20 million.

WSU assistant coaches will see an increase of $400,000 in their salary pool beginning in 2018, according to the news release. This will bring the assistant coaches salary pool to $3.14 million, according to The Seattle Times.

“Coach Leach has led a spectacular turnaround in the fortunes of our football program during the last six years, and we want to keep him in the Cougar family for a long time to come,” WSU President Kirk Schulz said. “Importantly, our on-field football success has reaped dividends for the entire athletic program, invigorating the interest of fans, boosting football season ticket sales and increasing donor contributions to the Cougar Athletic Fund.”

Leach led WSU to a 9-3 record and its third-straight bowl appearance this season. He is also the first football coach at WSU to post three consecutive winning seasons since Jim Sutherland did so from 1957-59.

“I would like to thank President Schulz and Washington State for their commitment to Cougar football and appreciate his vision and leadership for WSU Athletics,” Leach said. “We have accomplished some great things in our time here and my staff and I are excited to lead WSU Cougar Football into the future. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for our program.”

Note: This has been updated from its original version.