The Cheez-It Bowl berth means that California Golden Bears Football head coach Justin Wilcox will be getting more cheddar, announced Cal Football today.

⚠️ Justin Wilcox has signed a new five-year contract ⚠️



"I am thrilled to be the head football coach at Cal and have the opportunity to work with quality student-athletes every day. I am excited about our future in Berkeley." pic.twitter.com/ZEhOQWKlWt — Cal Football (@CalFootball) December 6, 2018

Cal head football coach Justin Wilcox, who will be leading the Golden Bears into the Cheez-It Bowl later this month, has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him with the school through the 2023 season. Cal finished 7-5 overall during the 2018 regular season, and the Bears will next face TCU in the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 26 in Phoenix, Ariz., the team’s first postseason appearance in three years. ”I want to thank Chancellor Christ and Jim Knowlton for their trust and confidence in me, as well as in our staff, to lead our team,” Wilcox said. “They share our collective vision for Cal football, and together we are building a program that makes our university and greater Golden Bear community proud on and off the field. I am thrilled to be the head football coach at Cal and have the opportunity to work with quality student-athletes every day. I am excited about our future in Berkeley.” The new package extends an additional two seasons from Wilcox’s original agreement signed in 2017 and includes increased compensation, as well as a larger assistant coach salary pool designed to aid with recruitment and retention of the football staff.

Jon Wilner and the Mercury News has more details on the new deal, particularly the new pays for Wilcox.

Wilcox was set to earn an average of $2 million over the course of the five-year contract he signed upon taking the job in the winter of 2017. The new deal pays him an average of $3.25 million, according to a source, slotting Wilcox in the middle tier of Pac-12 coaches. Crucially, the deal features an increase of approximately $600,000 for the compensation pool for coordinators and assistants.

That’s a pretty sizable raise for Wilcox, one can only imagine how much more money he will earn if he ever brings the program back to the promised land that is the Rose Bowl. It will be interesting to see how the increased compensation pool for the assistant coaches get divided.

Congratulations to Coach Wilcox!

GO BEARS!

Update: Official Full Release from Cal Football