Brad Underwood has signed a new eight-year contract with Stephen F. Austin, which will nearly double his salary after he led the Lumberjacks to the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament in his first season, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN.
The deal's long-term security and nearly $400,000 in salary are somewhat unprecedented in the Southland Conference. Underwood was highly sought after this offseason in the coaching carousel and was a candidate at Marshall and Southern Miss.
Underwood guided Stephen F. Austin to a 32-3 record, 18-0 in the Southland, and a round of 64 upset over VCU before losing to UCLA.
The negotiations also led to increased pay for his assistants. Underwood's buyout was considered small and will decrease each year, meaning he still could be poached by a higher-profile school.
But the commitment to Underwood at a school like Stephen F. Austin continues the trend of lower-profile schools holding on to their coaches.