Bears coach signs contract extension

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Lovie Smith, who guided his team to the 2006 NFC championship, signed a four-year contract extension with the Chicago Bears Wednesday.

General Manager Jerry Angelo also had his contract extended through the 2013 season.

Smith, named the NFL coach of the year in 2005, coached the Bears to a 15-4 record -- the last of those losses being a 29-17 setback to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. It was Chicago's first Super Bowl appearance in 21 years.

The Chicago coach had one year remaining on his contract. He was scheduled to make $1.35 million in 2007, which would have made him the lowest paid coach in the NFL.

There was no immediate word as to the size of Smith's pay raise.