For UAB fans, things took a big step in the right direction today after several months of waiting and anger towards administrators and board trustees.
Today UAB announced that head football coach Bill Clark agreed to a five year contract extension that will keep him on the Southside as UAB begins its rebuild of the shattered program.
Here are the details put out by UABSports.com:
University of Alabama at Birmingham Director of Athletics Mark Ingram announced Tuesday that a five-year contract extension has been reached with UAB head football Coach Bill Clark. Clark, 47, who has been the head coach at UAB since 2014, will continue leading the program as it heads toward playing again in 2017.
“The university looks forward to the next phase of UAB Football. We will continue raising philanthropic support needed for facilities and will move forward with our plan to play a complete FBS schedule as a full member of Conference USA in 2017,” Ingram said. “I am as happy as our fans, alumni, donors and community that Bill Clark will continue to be our coach. This is another day of celebration for UAB, with many more to come.”
Clark said, “My family and I want to thank UAB, Mark Ingram, Dr. Ray Watts and the Board of Trustees for their commitment to me as UAB’s head football coach. We are doing this and doing it right – today’s announcement sends that message loud and clear.”
“To all UAB supporters and family, thank you. I appreciate each and every one of you, what you’ve done, and continue to do, to support our program and I am proud to be your coach” Clark continued. “We need you now more than ever to help write the next chapter of UAB football. For my part, I am matching my previous gift and paying it immediately.”
More details from local reporters:
BREAKING UA System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee to consider Bill Clark's contract tomorrow in conference call #freeuab
— Alan Collins (@fox6alancollins) September 15, 2015
Bill Clark's contract extension was announced. 5 years. Now I can really believe UAB will play some football again
— Drew Champlin (@DrewChamplin) September 15, 2015
This is huge news for a school, fan base, and a city who wants to be able to root for their hometown team again. Keeping Clark around long term is a huge first step in rebuilding the program and shows recruits that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Obviously as negotiations have been going on Clark has been recruiting hard, now him and his staff will have some security with contracts in place.
As a UAB alum, I am anxious to see Coach Clark put the program back together, and I think we have a great coach and most importantly a great person in place to the lead the program to success.