President Dr. John W. Shumaker and Director of Athletics Doug Dickey announced Friday a one-year extension of the University of Tennessee’s contract with Phillip Fulmer. The agreement with the Vols head football coach maintains an annual compensation package of $1.65 million and now runs through Dec. 31, 2009.
 Fulmer recently was named president of the American Football Coaches Association and this year guided Tennessee to its 14th consecutive winning season and 14th consecutive bowl appearance — both school records. The Vols continue to own the Southeastern Conference’s best record (49-14) over the last five seasons, during which time they have won a national championship, an SEC championship and two Eastern Division titles.
 Fulmer also led the Vols to an SEC crown in 1997.
 “I’m pleased to make this renewal of Coach Fulmer’s contract,” Dickey said. “Phillip has operated a winning and exemplary program and continues to provide excellent management. His leadership is reflected not only at Tennessee but also by his recent election to president of the AFCA.”
 The agreement calls for a base salary of $225,000. Radio and television commitments account for $675,000, while endorsements and special event appearances total $550,000. An additional $1 million in deferred income ($200,000 per year) is payable to Fulmer at the completion of four more years with Tennessee.
 “Phillip Fulmer is a great coach and a wonderful individual,” Shumaker said. “We are happy to have him at Tennessee, and I look forward to many more years of his leadership of our football program.”
 The Vols earned Fulmer his 100th career coaching victory in November, captured a bowl bid — his 11th at Tennessee — and finished the 2002 season 8-5 despite having 19 starters miss a combined 71 games because of injury. Fulmer’s overall record stands at 103-25 for a winning percentage of .805 that is second among active Division I-A coaches.
 “I am very pleased with the extension and the continued confidence the university shows in our program,” Fulmer said. “We had a very unusual year with extenuating circumstances, but look forward to many great years ahead.”
 UT has the longest current bowl streak in the SEC, with Florida second at 12 in a row and Georgia third at six. Florida trails the Vols in overall record during the last five years at 47-16, with Georgia next at 46-16, Arkansas at 39-23 and Alabama at 37-24.
 “The University of Tennessee has the winningest record in the SEC over the last five years, a goal we seek to maintain,” Dickey said. “And Phillip’s winning percentage continues to be among the highest of both active and all-time coaches in Division I-A.”
 All funding for the athletics department, including coaching salaries, is from monies generated by athletics resources and not from appropriated funding by the state of Tennessee or other university-generated revenues.

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