Riley Signs Extension Through 2015

OREGON STATE head man Mike Riley has agreed in principle to a one year contract extension that will take him through at least the 2015 season it was announced by the school's athletics department on Monday. The new agreement contains a clause that for each bowl game appearance, another year is added back.

Mike Riley, 55, led the Beavs to their third straight bowl game this season and was named the 2008 Pac-10 Coach of the Year. The Beavs meet Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 -- the fifth bowl game in six years during Riley's second stint with the Beavers.

OSU enters Wednesday's bowl game in El Paso with the longest active bowl win streak (4) in the Pac-10. Oregon State also had 15 Pac-10 academic team selections in 2008, tied for the most in the Pac-10.

"There is no question we are on the right track in all facets of the football program," A.D. Bob De Carolis said in a release. "We have enjoyed some of our best seasons ever with Coach Riley at the helm and he has developed a program that continues to compete at the highest level."

Riley is due to make a salary of approximately $1 million this season with included incentives. He had been working under a six-year contract that rolled over for every bowl appearance; the new contract will be at seven years and is structured similarly in that it will add a year back for every bowl appearance.

"This is a recognition of how much Coach Riley has done for not only the football program, but the university overall," De Carolis added. "We have a lot of confidence in Coach Riley to lead us for future seasons."

Oregon State has the second best record in the league over the last three seasons at 27-12 and has finished in the top-25 the last two years. The Beavs are currently ranked No. 24 in the nation in the AP poll.

"I have a terrific job at a place that I truly love," said Riley. "The entire coaching staff has built a program in all areas that we are proud of. I look forward to many more successful seasons as the coach of this team."

Oregon State finished tied for second in the Pac-10 in '08 after finishing third in '06 and '07 - three of the program's top four finishes in the history of the Pac-10 Conference. A preseason poll of media who regularly cover the league picked OSU to finish fifth or lower in each of those seasons.

Riley began his collegiate head coaching career at Oregon State in 1997 and during his brief two-year tenure built a foundation for the most successful era in the program's history. The Beavers are playing in their eighth bowl game in a 10-year span, tied with USC for the second-most postseason appearances during that timeframe. Riley is the third winningest coach in Oregon State football history with 55 victories, trailing only Lon Stiner (74) and Tommy Prothro (63).

Beaver fans can still purchase tickets to the 75th annual Brut Sun Bowl by calling 1-800-Go-Beavs, visiting the Gill Coliseum ticket office or at osubeavers.com.