by Fitzgerald Cecilio

College Station, TX

For leading Texas A&M to an 11-2 record and a Cotton Bowl title in his first season, the Aggies have rewarded head coach Kevin Sumlin with a pay increase and contract extension through 2017.

Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman said the agreement in principle includes increased "compensation packages" for the Aggie assistant football coaches.

Hyman did not disclose any amount but added the agreements are pending Board of Regents approval, which will come during a meeting on Feb. 1.

Hired from Houston in December 2011 to replace the fired Mike Sherman, Sumlin originally signed for five years at $2 million a year, tied with Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze as the lowest paid coach in the conference.

Including incentives, Sumlin earned $2.4 million, making him the second-lowest paid coach among current SEC head coaches.

With the help of a Heisman Award-winning year from Johnny Manziel, turned the Aggies around immediately, improving from their 7-6 record in 2011 to an 11-2 mark in 2012.

They went 6-2 in conference play in their first SEC season, capped by a 41-13 win over Oklahoma in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

Copyright © - All Rights Reserved

Texas A&M Rewards Kevin Sumlin with Pay Increase