TCU fell just short of a playoff bid, but that doesn’t mean their season wasn’t a success. And, in recognition of said success, the Horned Frogs’ head coach is being rewarded.
According to Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News, Gary Patterson was on the receiving end of a new contract Sunday. Hairopoulos wrote that "[athletic director] Chris Del Conte would only say Patterson is taken care of ‘through the decade.’”
When the school will officially announce the new contract is unknown.
In its 2014 coach pay database, USA Today reported that Patterson earned $4.008 million for this year. That figure is 11th nationally and third among Big 12 coaches, behind only Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops ($5.058 million) and Texas’ Charlie Strong ($5 million). Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, at $3.55 million, is next among conference coaches after Patterson.
The specifics of Patterson’s new deal, including any type of salary increase, were not revealed.
Patterson is in the midst of his 15th season at TCU, and his most successful one since a 13-0 mark in 2010 was capped by a win in the Rose Bowl. The Horned Frogs finished the 2014 regular season 11-1 and ranked fifth in the country, one spot out of earning a berth in the first-ever College Football Playoff. Instead of a semifinal, TCU is prepping for its Peach Bowl matchup with Ole Miss.
During his time in Fort Worth, Patterson has compiled a 131-45 overall record and a 7-5 mark in bowl games. The Horned Frogs have also won seven conference titles in four different leagues under Patterson -- Big 12, Mountain West, Conference USA, WAC.
Earlier this month, he was named as the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.