Kliff Kingsbury signs contract extension with Texas Tech through 2020

Published Aug. 29, 2014 7:15 p.m. ET

Bruce Feldman

After a strong first season capped off by an impressive bowl win over Arizona State, Texas Tech has rewarded head coach Kliff Kingsbury with a robust contract extension. The new deal, which will run through the 2020 season, has a guaranteed total base of $24.2 million. Including this season Tech will pay Kingsbury an average of $3.5 million per year, sources tell FOX Sports.

Kingsbury, who signed the deal Friday afternoon, becomes the fourth highest-paid coach in the Big 12 behind Bob Stoops, Art Briles and Charlie Strong. The deal also affords the charismatic 35-year-old to earn as much as an extra $1.5 million in bonuses each year, according to sources. Kingsbury can max $34.7 million over the length of the contract.

“This is where I want to be and I couldn't be happier,” Kingsbury said in a university press release. “I can't wait to take this thing to the next level.”

A couple of the unique aspects of the contract: Kingsbury still will have creative control over the team's uniforms and also will make an additional $250,000 if he coaches a Heisman Trophy winner. Prior to getting the Tech job, Kingsbury helped propel Texas A&M redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel to the 2012 Heisman as the Aggies' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Texas Tech brass and Kingsbury's agent Erik Burkhardt were in negotiations for the past six to eight weeks working out the deal.

In 2013, despite playing the entire year with two true freshman QBs, Kingsbury led Tech to an 8-5 record. In his debut season back at the school where he was a star QB, he unified a fractured fan base while making the Red Raiders nationally relevant again.