COLLEGE PARK, Md., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Ralph Friedgen, who led Maryland to its first Atlantic Coast Conference title in 16 years, will have plenty of job security as he tries to build the Terrapins into a perennial power.
Friedgen was rewarded Tuesday with a new 10-year contract that could keep him at the school through the 2012 season. He had signed a six-year deal when he was hired on Nov. 30, 2000.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In his first year as a head coach, Friedgen, 54, guided his alma mater to a 10-1 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl against Florida. The sixth-ranked Terrapins reached 10 wins for only the fifth time in school history and the first since 1976.
A 1969 graduate of Maryland, Friedgen last week was recognized as the national Coach of the Year.
"Coach Friedgen has made extraordinary progress and is fully committed to continue to build Maryland football into a perennial top-20 program," athletic director Deborah Yow said. "There could be no better fit for our institution. He shares our values related to graduation rates and embraces the concept of student-athletes."
Friedgen waited 29 years to get his first head-coaching job, having spent the previous four years as the offensive coordinator under George O'Leary at Georgia Tech.
He also coached in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers on two different occasions in the 1990s. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Maryland from 1969-72.
"I came back to Maryland a year ago with a vision for this program and I am anxious to see the plan through," said Friedgen, who served as Bobby Ross' offensive coordinator at Maryland from 1982-86. "This contract allows me to do that.
"Of course, this season has been extremely special. My hope is that the tremendous enthusiasm and excitement that our success has generated will serve as the impetus for future breakthroughs."
