Matt Weir / The Collegian

Talks of a contract extension with university, but still no signing.

Fresno State announced last December that it was going to extend head coach Pat Hill’s contract, but with spring practice in full swing, Hill said he is not worried about his contract extension.

“That’s not even really a big concern of mine right now,” Hill said at last week’s first spring practice.

Hill is currently in the last year of the contract he signed in 2006. Hill’s contract will expire on Dec. 31, 2010, unless he signs the extension that is expected.

Hill said there have been talks about the extension, but, as of April, nothing has materialized.

“We talked about an extension,” he said. “But I haven’t seen anything on paper yet, and I’m not too worried about it right now.”

Hill is set to earn a base salary of $650,000 for the upcoming 2010 season, but his total earnings could be even higher, depending on his bonuses and other incomes.

This will be the coach’s 14th year at Fresno State. Under his guidance, the football team has achieved insurmountable success on and off the field.

Hill won a school-record 81 games this decade, making it the winningest 10 years in program history. Hill has also taken his teams to 10 bowl games in the past 11 years, winning four of them. The ‘Dogs have suffered only two losing seasons under Hill.

In the classroom, the football team has made strides across the board. Since becoming head coach in 1997, Hill has had 123 players named Academic All-WAC. Before Hill’s arrival, the football team only had nine players achieve that distinct honor.

Last season, senior safety Moses Harris was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, an award that recognizes student-athletes, who not only excel on the gridiron, but in the classroom as well. Harris received a postgraduate scholarship worth $18,000 for his achievements as a student-athlete.

The football team’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) has also improved during Hill’s tenure. The team currently has an APR rating of 946, the eighth highest score in the western United States.

Under Hill, the team’s overall Grade Point Average has improved significantly. Almost 50 players on the spring roster earned a 3.0 GPA or better.

Hill will look to continue his excellence on and off the field, if he remains the head coach of the Fresno State football team for years to come.