UAB and Bill Clark have agreed to a long-term extension that makes him one of the highest paid coaches in Conference USA.

Clark's compensation jumps up to $900,000 and will escalate to $1,015,000 over the course of an extension that goes through the 2022 season. The deal makes Clark one of the top five paid coaches in Conference USA with UTSA's Frank Wilson topping the list at $1.137 million annually. Before the extension, Clark had a base salary of $605,000 on a contract that ran through June 1, 2020 and was the ninth-highest paid coach in the conference. UAB athletic director Mark Ingram told AL.com in September the school was negotiating with Clark in "light of relevant team, economic and peer data."

"Jennifer and I want to thank the Blazer students, fans, the Birmingham community, Dr. Watts, Mark Ingram, the UAB administration, the University Board of Trustees and the Athletics Foundation for their support of the return of UAB football," Clark said in a statement provided to AL.com. "We also want to thank our players, coaches and staff for the hard work and commitment they have made for our program to be successful in the classroom, in life and on the football field."

The deal is subject to final approval from the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. The board's compensation committee is expected to occur within the next two weeks.

The extension comes in midst of a remarkable season for Clark and the Blazers. In the program's first season back since it was shuttered Dec. 2014, Clark has guided UAB to a 5-3 record with a chance to become bowl eligible with a win this weekend. Clark has popped up as a name to watch for expected head coach openings including Ole Miss.

Clark first arrived in Birmingham from Jacksonville State on a three-year contract in 2014. Following a 6-6 first season and the disbanding of the program for a six-month stretch, he signed an extension in Sept. 2015 that bumped up his base salary and offered incentives for wins, donations and academic progress, among others.

John Talty is the college sports editor for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JTalty.