NEW ORLEANS — University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham and Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill have agreed to a new contract that will pay the Ute coach $6 million over the next five years. The pair signed the agreement today in New Orleans, where the Utah football team is preparing for its Jan. 2 Allstate Sugar Bowl game with Alabama.

The contract, which will pay Whittingham $1.2 million annually, includes a base salary of $200,000. The remainder will come from radio and television rights, appearance fees, public speaking, fundraising and official outfitter compensation from Under Armour.

"When I hired Kyle four years ago, I felt he was the best person for the job, and the fact that we are here at a BCS bowl, with a 12-0 record and a No. 7 national ranking bears that out," said Hill. "We are elated that Kyle feels the same commitment to the University of Utah that we have to him and our football program. Kyle does things the right way, his players excel not only on the field, but in the classroom and the community, and he is an excellent ambassador for our university."

Said Whittingham, "I am very happy here at the University of Utah and feel fortunate to coach in a place where we can attract quality student-athletes who can compete at the highest level. I appreciate the support that Dr. Hill and President Young have given me and also the incredible support the community has shown for our football team."

Whittingham is 36-14 in four years as Utah's head coach and is in his 15th year on the staff. He served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator from 1994-2004, before accepting the head job in December of 2004. Whittingham is 3-0 in bowl games as the head coach and has coached in all of Utah's seven-straight bowl wins as either a head or assistant coach.