Rutgers coach Kyle Flood

Rutgers coach Kyle Flood is in his third season as the Scarlet Knights head coach.

(Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger)

PISCATAWAY -- Any lingering doubts about Kyle Flood's short-term coaching future were put to rest Thursday as Flood agreed to a two-year contract extension, the university athletics department announced.

Flood entered this season as the lowest-paid head coach in the Big Ten, earning $950,000 in guaranteed compensation. Every other coach in the Big Ten earns at least $1 million, according to the USA Today's annual report of college football coaches' salaries.

He will still earn the same pay through the end of the calendar year, then his salary is set to increase to $1.25 million (from $1.05 million) next year. Flood's base salary remains $550,000 and after guaranteed additional income he will earn a total of $1.35 million in 2016, $1.45 million in 2017, and $1.55 million in 2018.

All told, Flood received a guaranteed increase of $3.4 million for the lifetime of the contract.

While he had two seasons remaining beyond this year on a contract set to expire on Feb. 28, 2017, there had been questions about his job status since the end of last season, when the Scarlet Knights lost six of their last eight games to finish 6-7.

If Flood was fired at the end of this season, Flood would've received a buyout of $700,000 but the extension guarantees Flood to receive a flat $1.4 million buyout if he is terminated without cause at any point through Feb. 28, 2019. Before the addendum was executed, his contract called for a $500,000 buyout if he was fired at the end of next season.

Flood received a vote of confidence from Rutgers AD Julie Hermann, but didn't receive a contract extension. In June, NJ Advance Media columnist Steve Politi reported Flood hired Jimmy Sexton, a powerful sports agent, to represent him in contract negotiations with the university.

Hermann declined immediate comment through her spokesperson, but in a statement said: "Kyle Flood is a tremendous coach for our football team and has earned the opportunity to lead us into the Big Ten and build on our program successes. With the generosity of private funding, we are pleased to invest in our Head Coach and our entire staff at a level more consistent with our Big Ten peers.''

Flood, whose career head coaching record stands at 17-11 after this season's 2-0 start, signed the addendum to his contract on Wednesday, while Rutgers President Robert Barchi executed the contract with his signature on Thursday morning.

"Coach Flood exemplifies our university's standards and values both on and off the field,'' Barchi said. "He has put together a strong coaching staff that supports our mission to compete well both in the classroom and on the field.''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.