WKU head football coach Jeff Brohm has agreed to a four-year contract extension with Western Kentucky University, which runs through the 2019 season, Director of Athletics Todd Stewart announced on Wednesday.
The contract and terms are subject to approval from the Western Kentucky University Board of Regents. In the agreement, Brohm’s base salary was increased through the raising of private funds from $600,000 annually to $800,000 annually, making him one of Conference USA’s most well-compensated head coaches. His additional contract incentives remain unchanged.
In just two seasons as the program’s head coach, Brohm owns a 20-7 career record, a career winning percentage of 74.1-percent, the second-best in program history. Brohm has led the Hilltoppers to their first-ever bowl victory, first-ever Associated Press Top 25 national ranking, and first-ever FBS conference championship. He is also the only coach in school history to win 20 games in his first two seasons and one of only four to win double-digit games in a season, joining Jack Harbaugh, Jimmy Feix and Nick Denes.
“Jeff Brohm’s leadership has resulted in our football program reaching historic heights, and this is an exciting and unprecedented time for everyone associated with WKU football,” Stewart said. “Despite receiving overtures from many regarding other coaching opportunities, Jeff remained loyal to WKU and he and his family are valued residents of our community. It was imperative we reward that loyalty. His dedication to our players and their personal development is also noteworthy. I am thrilled that Jeff will continue to lead our program moving forward.”
The 2015 Hilltoppers finished the season ranked No. 24 in the final AP Top 25 and became the first C-USA school in the league’s 20-year history to go undefeated in conference play and win the conference championship game. Brohm’s team was, in fact, the second-most dominant league champion in C-USA’s history, winning their league games by an average margin of 27.1 points. Under Brohm’s direction, the WKU offense has shattered program records for total offense, passing offense and points scored.
“I would like to thank (Western Kentucky University) President Dr. Gary Ransdell, Todd Stewart and our administration here at WKU for their support and confidence in me as we build this program,” Brohm said. “I have enjoyed representing my home state of Kentucky and our program and believe we can do special things on The Hill. I look forward to continuing what we started in 2014 and 2015 and to keep building WKU the right way, with the right people involved in the process.
“We have a great community, great fans, and great student-athletes, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue pursuing the goal of competing for conference championships, going to great bowl destinations in C-USA and achieving in the classroom and the community.”