Arkansas gives Bielema contract extension, puts him in $4m club

Arkansas has given head coach Bret Bielema a two-year contract extension through 2020, in a deal that will earn the coach at least $4m a year.

The Razorbacks will raise Bielema’s salary by $100,000 per year, and have also added incentives for athletic and academic success that could give ‘Bert’ an extra $1m a year.

ESPN.com noted that Bielema becomes the eighth SEC coach to earn at least $4m a year.

Jeff Long, Arkansas’ AD said: “Coach Bret Bielema is not only one of the best college football coaches in the nation, he is an outstanding leader. What Coach Bielema and his coaching staff have done for our young men, on and off the field, is something that has dramatically changed the course of our program and most importantly positively impacted the lives of our football student-athletes. He is building a championship program in a way that all Arkansans can be proud of. We look forward to his continued leadership of our football program and the many successes yet to come.”

After a woeful 2013, Arkansas rebounded to have a 7-6 season, ending with smashing Texas 31-7 in the Alamo Bowl. Most impressively, they beat Ole Miss and LSU, and took Alabama and Texas A&M close.