Jim Tressel Receives Two-Year Contract Extension, No Raise

Jim Tressel has received a two-year contract extension from Ohio State, a nice display of cuddly commitment between Ohio State and the coach of the reigning Big Ten champions. It is only a display of commitment, though, and not one of increased compensation, according to Ohio State AD Gene Smith, via Marcus Hartman's Twitter feed. 

"Jim has indicated to me he is satisfied with his salary. He is aware of the financial situation we all face in athletics..."

Tressel is not suffering in the salary department. He makes $3.5 million a year and is currently the fourth-highest paid coach in the nation, so perhaps it is about the financial situation most athletic departments face in the midst of a still-wobbly economy.

It may also be an indicator about the market for Tressel's services, too. At the moment, he's in rarefied air as a long-tenured coach with a national title and multiple conference titles, but he also is in his own category as a lifelong Ohio guy with no other real competitors for his services. Tressel is certainly a good football coach, but he may be an even better coach specific to the job of being the Ohio State University's football coach, if that makes any sense. He's well-compensated, but like Paterno at Penn State, Tressel has evolved into the niche to the point where Ohio State can dictate his pay more than the other way around.