RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina and coach Butch Davis agreed
Wednesday to a one-year contract extension through the 2014 season.
Davis also will receive a raise of $291,000 that will push his
annual income to about $2.1 million. The raise and extension are
expected to be approved next week by the university's board of
trustees.
Davis is 3-8 in his first season in Chapel Hill, but had been
rumored as a possible candidate at Arkansas -- his homestate
university -- if the Razorbacks make a coaching change. Davis has
repeatedly denied interest in any other jobs during the past month.
"My family and I felt like Chapel Hill was the right place last
year, and are even more convinced after being here for one
season," Davis said. "I'm confident we will continue to make
progress in all phases of the football program."
Davis said he looked forward to a long, successful career at the
university, adding: "This should put to rest any speculation of
where I'll be coaching in the future."
Athletic director Dick Baddour said he and Davis first discussed
the possibility of extending the coach's contract several weeks
ago.
"We recognize the progress Coach Davis has made in rebuilding
and generating momentum in the Carolina football program," Baddour
said. "We recognize that we have one of the nation's best coaches
and we wanted to ensure the stability of the program.
"We were aggressive in pursuing Coach Davis last year before
the season ended and we wanted to be ahead of the curve this
year."
The extension was announced almost exactly one year after Davis
took over the sagging Tar Heels program from John Bunting, who was
fired midway through a 3-9 season in 2006. Davis signed the
original seven-year contract worth about $1.9 million annually on
Nov. 27, 2006.
Earlier this week, Davis expressed a desire to expand
60,000-seat Kenan Stadium by up to 10,000 seats, add luxury suites
and club seating, and construct an academic support center for the
players.
North Carolina concludes Davis' first season Saturday at home
against rival Duke.