After a transformative year that saw Cincinnati crash the College Football Playoff and earn an invitation to the Big 12, the school is ramping up investment in coach Luke Fickell and his football staff.
Fickell confirmed to ESPN on Monday that he has agreed to a new contract through 2028 that will pay him $5 million per year, pending approval from Cincinnati’s board of trustees. The school is also expected to up the staff salary pool to $5.2 million, a bump of more than $1.4 million.
“I appreciate the efforts of [athletic director] John Cunningham and president [Neville G.] Pinto, who realize in order for us to take the next step to grow the program and go to the Big 12 that we have to invest in people, not just the head coach,” Fickell told ESPN on Monday night.
Fickell has led Cincinnati to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. The Bearcats’ only two…