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Leavitt agrees to 3-year extension

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001

TAMPA -- Jim Leavitt repeatedly has said he can't imagine coaching anywhere other than the University of South Florida.

And for at least the next five years, that's exactly where he's scheduled to be.

Two weeks after signing his best recruiting class in the program's four years, South Florida athletic officials extended Leavitt's contract three years, through January 2006.

Leavitt, a former co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State, was hired by USF in 1996 to take over a program in its beginning stages. Leavitt signed his first recruiting class in 1996. Those players went through a fall season of practices and scrimmage games, then began playing in 1997.

"There are very few people who can honestly and legitimately say he is the program," athletic director Paul Griffin said. "There has been no other and hopefully there will be no other for quite some time."

With the extension, Leavitt's base salary will increase from $140,000 to $200,000 in 2003 and $220,000 in 2005. The base does not include television, football camp and apparel incentives.

"This will bring his salary in line with the median base salaries of the other Conference USA coaches," Griffin said. "We felt fortunate to attract (him) when we hired him in 1996, and we realize more than ever that he is the right person to lead our football program into Conference USA and major Division I football."

South Florida is in its first season of Division I football and will enter C-USA in 2003. Leavitt is 27-17 in four seasons.

"I'm very, very happy," said Leavitt, a native of St. Petersburg. "I couldn't be happier. I've got the best job in America. I have the best-paid job in America, because I'm living in an area that is priceless. It's my home. You can't put a price on that."

CENTRAL FLORIDA: Coach Mike Kruczek received some encouraging news on the fifth day of spring practice as cornerback Travis Fisher (broken hand) took part in non-contact drills. Safety Albert Snyder began non-contact drills for the first time after rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

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