Callahan gets new deal at Nebraska

Sep 4, 2007, 18:06 GMT

Lincoln, NE - The University of Nebraska has rewarded head football coach Bill Callahan with a new five-year contract that runs through January 2012.

Callahan signed a six-year deal when he took over the program in 2004, but the new pact replaces the old one and is retroactive to July of 2007. He will get a raise in base salary from $1.5 million to $1.75 million and the deal includes a potential $425,000 in bonuses on an annual basis.

'I have said on numerous occasions that we want coach Callahan to be the coach at Nebraska for a long time,' said Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson. 'This commitment to Bill and his staff is a result of our belief that all the right ingredients are in place for long-term success. Bill has assembled a top-notch staff, and they are recruiting outstanding young men. He also has set a very high standard for discipline, integrity and work ethic that makes us proud as Nebraskans.'

Nebraska opened the 2007 campaign with a 52-10 rout of Nevada this past Saturday and will visit Wake Forest this coming Saturday before welcoming Southern California on September 15.

'We have a nationally televised game Saturday, and we want to focus all of our attention on Wake Forest because we have such great respect for that program,' said Callahan. 'Obviously, I also have the utmost respect for the University of Nebraska, the state of Nebraska and all the fans who support our players and our coaches. We've been given the support and the resources we need to achieve at the highest levels. I'm very excited to get that kind of commitment.'

The Cornhuskers are 23-15 under Callahan, who is in his fourth season at the helm. After a 5-6 first season, Nebraska went 8-4 in 2005 with an Alamo Bowl victory and 9-5 last season with a Big 12 North title and a loss in the Cotton Bowl.

Callahan joined Nebraska after spending two years as the head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders. He took the Raiders to the Super Bowl in his first season, but the team plummeted to a mark of 4-12 in 2003.

© 2007 The Sports Network