North Dakota State University and head football coach Craig Bohl have agreed to an eight-year contract extension that runs from 2013 to 2021. The announcement was made today by NDSU Director of Athletics Gene Taylor.

“I am very pleased we have signed Coach Bohl to continue being the head coach of the Bison the next several years. His record of success speaks for itself and how he operates the program overall is exceptional. I could not be more pleased as to the future of Bison football under his leadership and our continued working relationship together,” said Taylor.

Taylor said the current base salary of the contract is $206,503. The annual salary will be increased by a minimum of five percent per year effective July 1, 2013, contingent on performance evaluations. The contract includes a three (3) percent of gross home football regular season single-game and season ticket sales. There are also incentives for a Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship ($10,000), Football Championship Subdivision home ($5,000) and away ($2,500) playoff games, a FCS runner-up finish ($10,000) and a FCS championship ($15,000).

The contract includes provisions for the assistant coaches to receive compensation for a conference championship ($1,500), FCS home ($1,500) and away ($750) playoff games, a FCS runner-up finish ($1,500) and a FCS championship ($2,000). It also states the yearly budget for assistant coach salaries shall be in the top 10 percent of FCS football programs.

“I want to thank Gene Taylor for his leadership and believing in the direction that we have established for the North Dakota State football program. I sincerely appreciate the University's long-term commitment to me and to the future of Bison football. The success that we've accomplished has been possible because of the collective efforts of the football coaches and staff, players, our administration and the entire NDSU family,” said Bohl, who has directed the Bison to a 13-1 record and their second straight FCS Championship game appearance against Sam Houston State on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in Frisco.

Bohl is in his 10th season with an 88-32 overall record including a 23-8 record against nationally-ranked FCS teams and a 9-1 record in the FCS playoffs including the 2011 national championship. He has a 6-3 mark against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams over the past seven seasons -- including a 22-7 win at Colorado State this season.

With the 88 wins, Bohl is second all-time at the school behind Rocky Hager (91-25-1, 1987-96). He received the 2012 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award in December. Bohl was the recipient of the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year honor for the second straight season after leading the Bison to a 7-1 record and a second straight conference title in 2012. It was the program's 29th league title overall and third since moving to the NCAA Division I FCS.

Bohl was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association at the 2012 AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas. He was also named the 2011 AFCA Region 4 FCS Coach of the Year.

Since making the move to Division I FCS, the football program's performance on the field with the West Coast offense and aggressive defense has rekindled the excitement in the Fargo-Moorhead community, state of North Dakota and the region. NDSU's average home attendance in the Fargodome has grown from 11,567 in 2003 to a school record 18,516 achieved in 2012. There have been 13 sellouts over the past seven seasons. Capacity is listed at 18,700. The Bison are 52-12 at home over the past 10 years.

Since his arrival, North Dakota State has had eight players earn 11 Capital One Academic All-America team honors. Fourteen different players have received All-America honors. A Bison student-athlete has been selected to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works team six times over the past 10 years. NDSU has also received the FCS Athletic Directors Association APR Award several times including for the 2010-11 academic year. In addition, North Dakota State has been ranked in the top five for 41 weeks since moving NCAA Division I FCS including 22 weeks at No. 1.