Chuck Amato gets contract extension

RALEIGH, N.C., May 2 (UPI) -- Chuck Amato, the head football coach at North Carolina State, has been given a one-year extension, meaning his contract runs though the 2007 season.

Amato has led the resurgence of the Wolfpack football program, and guided the team to an 11-win campaign last fall. That included a 28-6 rout of Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, 2003, and the first ever 10-win regular season.

It marks the third year in a row that the school has added a year to Amato's original five-year contract. The extra year was approved by the school's Board of Trustees.

The Raleigh News and Observer reported that Amato's total annual compensation package is thought to be around $750,000. An $840,000 annuity kicks in if he stays that long.

"We're going to keep Chuck Amato happy," Athletic Director Lee Fowler told the Durham (N.C.) Herald-Sun. "We'll do whatever it takes keep him. I hope to have Chuck Amato as our head football coach until he's done coaching college football."

"This just continues to show the commitment (Chancellor Marye Anne) Fox and our (Athletic Director) have made to our football program," Amato told the N&O. "I appreciate the faith in me and what we're trying to accomplish."

Before coming to Raleigh, Amato spent 18 years at Florida State, the last 14 as defensive coordinator.

Amato is just the fourth coach in ACC history, and the second ever at N.C. State, to earn bowl appearances in each of his first three years as head coach. Last season, N.C. State became the first ACC team to beat Florida State in back-to-back seasons since the Seminoles joined the conference, and in 2001, the Wolfpack was the first league opponent to beat FSU on their home field.

In its preseason poll, Sports Illustrated has N.C. State ranked No. 6 for this fall.