HUNTINGTON, W.Va.– Marshall University has locked up two of the most prominent figures in its athletic department, agreeing in principle to new contracts with athletics director Mike Hamrick and football coach Doc Holliday.

Hamrick and Holliday will receive six-year contracts that will include salary increases. The exact terms of the contracts are still being finalized.

“We are indeed pleased to have secured Mike Hamrick and Coach Holliday as our athletic director and head coach for the long term,” said Michael G. Sellards, chairman of the Marshall University Board of Governors. “They have both done outstanding work in their respective jobs and their commitment to Marshall University and the success of our student-athletes both on and off the field is truly commendable. We look forward to continued success in the coming years.”

News of a possible extension for Holliday began to trickle out while the Thundering Herd was in Boca Raton, Fla. preparing for its bowl game versus Northern Illinois.

Marshall defeated NIU 52-23 capping off a 13-1 season that included its first Conference USA Championship. The bowl victory was the third for Marshall in the last four seasons.

Holliday, who was named the 2014 Conference USA Coach of the Year, has led a resurgence of Marshall football program. Under Holliday, the Herd is 40-25 and has won 19 of its last 20 games. Holliday is also 3-0 in postseason bowl games at Marshall.

Marshall went just 24-37 with one bowl appearance in the five seasons prior to Holliday’s arrival on campus.

The Herd averaged 45.6 points a game this season, besting a school record set back in 1996 when Marshall averaged 43.9 points a game. Marshall has averaged 40 points per game in each of the last three seasons with Holliday as the head coach.

Meanwhile, Hamrick has led an unprecedented fundraising effort at Marshall and has overseen major construction projects to upgrade athletic facilities. Marshall’s new Chris Cline Athletic Complex includes a new indoor facility with a 120-yard football field, 300-meter track, sports medicine institute, an academic center and an athletic hall of fame.

Since Hamrick was hired in 2009, a state-of-the-art soccer complex has been constructed a new softball facility.

Hamrick, a Clendenin native, has also secured home-and-home football contracts with Purdue, Louisville, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh.