Stoops gets six-figure bump, one year extension
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Mark Stoops was rewarded for the defensive transformation he's guided at Florida State the past two seasons.
According to FSU Board of Trustees chairman Andy Haggard, Stoops was given approximately a $150,000 raise and a one-year extension to a deal that was paying him $440,000 annually and ran through the 2013 season. That means Stoops will be making close to $600,000 annually and is signed through 2014.
Haggard confirmed that the contract has been signed by Stoops.
"Coach Stoops did a tremendous job with the defense," Haggard said.
Stoops was one of the hottest names in the coaching carousel this offseason. His name was bantered about most for Auburn's vacant defensive coordinator position last month. Warchant.com confirmed that Stoops and Auburn had been in talks regarding the position, and while he wouldn't go into details, Haggard conceded that Auburn had offered a significant raise to Stoops to leave Tallahassee.
"The fact that he turned down more money from Auburn says a lot about him and the state of (FSU) program and the direction it is headed," Haggard said.
Stoops will be back to lead a defense that ranked among the top 10 nationally in almost every major statistical category and loses only three seniors - Terrance Parks, Mike Harris and Nigel Bradham among the 22 on its two deep depth chart.
This is on the heels of a one-year contract extension announced for head coach Jimbo Fisher last week. That keeps him under contract through the 2016 season.
"The fact that (Fisher) been able to win 19 games the last two years says a lot," Haggard said.
"I appreciate the trust they have and what we're trying to do from our leadership from President Barron, and Mr. Spetman and the Board of Trustees," Fisher said following FSU's 18-14 win over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. "They can see it, and that is what keeps that momentum going."