Miami's Richt Secures Contract Extension Through 2023

A month after extending the contract of basketball coach Jim Larranaga, Miami has done the same for its football coach.

The school's athletics director, Blake James, confirmed Thursday that Mark Richt is under contract in Coral Gables through 2023.

"Mark has done a phenomenal job of building this program -- and generating enthusiasm for this program -- since the day he arrived back on campus," James said in a press release. "We look forward to continued success under his watch, both on and off the field, for many years to come."

Miami has long been of that mind.

Richt, 58, has been coy about the length of his contract -- "it's long enough," he said after he was hired in December 2015 -- but has said numerous times he hopes to retire at Miami. He was the nation's 12th-highest-paid coach while at Georgia ($4.1 million a year, per public documents) when the school fired him in 2015. He was making at least that at Miami, a source familiar with the negotiations said at the time of his hire.

The Associated Press reported the deal was for six years, making this a two-year extension. Larranaga recently signed a two-year extension for an undisclosed figure. UM, a private school, is not required to disclose such contract information.

Richt, who will be 63 at the end of his deal, is 19-7 in his first two seasons at his alma mater. The Hurricanes went 10-3 last year and reached the ACC title game. It was the team's first appearance in that game since joining the league in 2004. The Canes played in the Orange Bowl -- their first major bowl bid since 2003. It was also the school's first 10-win season since that year. Richt was named ACC Coach of the Year and Walter Camp National Coach of the Year.

Soon after his arrival, Richt beat the drum loudly for an indoor practice facility, chipping in $1 million to the fundraising efforts. Miami, one of the few major college football programs without shelter from the elements, opens a $34 million facility in late July.

"We're excited about where this program is headed," said Richt, who spent 15 years as a Florida State assistant and 15 years at Georgia before coming to UM, where he played quarterback from 1978-82. The Boca Raton native lives in Coconut Grove with his wife, Katharyn. His son, Jon, is UM's quarterbacks coach.

"Miami is not only my alma mater, it is home to me and my family. It's a blessing to live and work in paradise."

Richt is 164-58 in 17 seasons.

[email protected] @mattyports

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