Ohio State football coach John Cooper was granted a contract extension by athletic director Andy Geiger on Friday that will keep Cooper on the sidelines through the 2004 season. Cooper, the second winningest coach at OSU (101-35-4), will make $1.1 million under the new agreement. The monies come from a base salary of $200,000 plus compensation from radio, television, Nike and camps. Also, academic and team performance incentives were added which could boost the $1.1 million deal to $1,447,000 if certain requirements are met.
“I am excited and pleased,” Geiger said in a released statement. “John Cooper has continued to be an outstanding football coach for Ohio State. We have challenged for the national championship two out of the last three years and I want to keep the coaching team together that has done that. We have a great team and a great organization and I want it to remain so.”
Under the contract agreement, Cooper also will be able to renegotiate a renewal of his deal following March 1, 2002.
In a released statement, Cooper thanked Geiger, OSU president William “Brit” Kirwan and the rest of the Ohio State administration. He also stated his desire to finish his coaching career as a Buckeye.
“It is very gratifying to know that I’ll be able to finish my coaching career here at Ohio State,” Cooper said.
Cooper is currently ranked sixth nationally among current coaching wins with 181 total. He is also the fifth winningest coach in Big Ten history with a .719 winning percentage.
