The University of Kentucky and head football coach Rich Brooks have finalized a new four-year contract, including a University option for a fifth year.
The new contract replaces Brooks? initial five-year deal, which had one year remaining, and covers the 2007-10 seasons, plus the University option to renew for 2011. Including endorsements and broadcasting services, the coach?s base pay will be $1 million per year, with additional incentives for winning five or more Southeastern Conference games, the SEC Eastern Division or overall league championship, participation in bowl games, increases in football ticket revenues, and academic performance by the team.
Brooks arrived at UK beginning with the 2003 season, inheriting a program on major scholarship penalties because of NCAA violations committed by a previous staff. Brooks patiently rebuilt the program, culminating in an 8-5 season in 2006 that included a win over Clemson in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.
Some of the milestones achieved during the 2006 season feature:
most wins for a Kentucky team and the first bowl win in 22 years a third-place finish in the SEC Eastern Division, UK?s best league finish since 1993 a final national ranking of 28th in the Sagarin Computer Ratings published by USA Today one of the 10 most improved teams in the nation, based on a five-win improvement from 2005 the first win in an SEC opener in 19 years a win over Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan the first win over Georgia in 10 years three consecutive fourth-quarter comeback victories over Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Louisiana-Monroe
The accomplishments in 2006 were compiled against a schedule that was rated as the nation?s 13th most difficult according to the Sagarin Ratings. UK played eight teams during the season that eventually advanced to bowl games.
Looking ahead to the 2007 season, Kentucky could return as many as 15 starters (seven offense, eight defense), including five players who have been first- or second-team All-SEC during their careers ? wide receiver Keenan Burton, tailback Rafael Little, tight end Jacob Tamme, quarterback Andre? Woodson, and linebacker Wesley Woodyard.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – JAN. 30
Head Coach Rich Brooks
Opening statement ?
?First I would like to thank Dr. Lee Todd and Mitch Barnhart for extending the contract, recognizing that the staff also has done some things and given us some more money for the assistant coaches. I think their salary pool is a little higher in the league then mine is and that is always a very good sign. I think it is critically important as we move forward to have an experienced and talented staff that can not only recruit but teach and I am very pleased that basically all the coaches are under contract at this point in time. We are ready to go to work a week from tomorrow.?
On the recruiting implications of a new contract on the recruiting trail ?
?It is very difficult to recruit when people are speculating whether the coach recruiting him is going to be here. Obviously we did a pretty good job of that last year and I don?t think there was much of that at the end of this season but during the season there was and I am glad that has been cleared up. It is just one less thing that you have to overcome in the recruiting process.?
On some potential facility advancements ?
?Most of the discussions were not on my end as they were on some of the other issues like the assistant coaches and some other things like the direction of the program, facilities and things like that. There is no major thing, but we want to upgrade our locker room in Nutter Training Facility. We want to get rid of the old astro [turf] in the indoor [facility], and get the new safer field turf. Some things like a theatre-style meeting room so that you can have a little bit better eye contact to the people you are talking to.?
On keeping pace facility-wise with the Southeastern Conference ?
?I think that is obviously an important thing not only for myself and our staff to go forward but for this University to go forward as a viable member of this conference. All you have to do is look around you and see what is happening in the rest of the league, whether it be salaries, facilities, upgrades, and additions to a department that is there to support football. I think there are all times to address those and make sure that you are not losing ground and hopefully you can close the gap on some of the more established programs in the league.?
On a time-table on potential facility advancements ?
?I don?t know but we did talk about that and hopefully there will be some resolution sometime in the near future. I feel very good about the commitment to go forward with some of the improvements. Again, I am not talking about major issues, I am talking about upgrades. Anytime you can enhance what the recruits see when they come to campus you have a better chance of competing with the established teams in this conference.?
On the importance of rewarding the coaching staff for the 8-5 2006 season ?
?I think that what is important is that the administration was willing to give us some raises to the assistant coaches after the good work that they have accomplished. We are obviously not the highest-paid staff in the league but we are not also the worst and if you want to keep people that are talented then you have to at least show that you are going to be in the marketplace.?
