University of Richmond Athletics
Mike London Inked Through 2014 Season
06/30/2009 | Football
June 30, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond Director of Athletics Jim Miller announced Tuesday that the contract of head football coach Mike London has been extended through the 2014 season. London '83 guided his alma mater to the 2008 Division I National Championship in his first year as a head coach.
"Extending this agreement is another positive step for Spider Football," said Miller. "There is no doubt Mike is the right person to lead our football program as we continue to keep the University of Richmond among the nation's elite FCS teams.
"This is a tribute to Mike's success and his ability to mold champions on the field and in the classroom."
The agreement is a two-year extension of London's original five-year contract, which was in its second year. Salary terms were not announced, but the agreement can be extended again based on performance.
"I am grateful to many people who helped make this happen," said London, 48. "I would like to thank President Ayers and Jim Miller for their commitment to the football program, our players who dedicate themselves on and off the field, and most importantly, the tireless work of our assistant coaches and staff.
"It has been my desire to relocate my family to Richmond and this contract extension will allow that to happen. The University of Richmond has new and exciting initiatives under way and I am excited to be part of its continued growth."
The former Spider defensive back and assistant coach, who was the defense coordinator at the University of Virginia before taking the Richmond helm on January 19, 2008, London was named the AFCA National Coach of the Year, the Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly National Coach of the Year and the BCA Male of the Year on the heels of his rookie season.
In addition to Richmond's on-field success, four Spiders were honored by CAA Football as Academic All-Conference performers in 2008, while the team earned its second-consecutive NCAA public recognition award for the high graduation rates of its football student-athletes.
In the midst of the most successful run in program history, progress continues on a $25 million on-campus stadium, which is set to open for the 2010 season. The top-ranked FCS team heading into 2009 has set the school record for victories in back-to-back seasons, winning 11 during its first trip to the NCAA semifinals in 2007, followed by 13 wins as the national champions in 2008.
The Spiders became just the second private school to win the Football Championship Subdivision's national title, with London becoming just the second African-American and the third-ever rookie to be crowned champion.
After starting the season 4-3, Richmond rattled off nine-consecutive victories en route to the school's first NCAA team national championship in any sport. The unseeded Spiders' playoff run included road wins at No. 2 Appalachian State and No. 3 Northern Iowa, and a decisive 24-7 win over fourth-seeded Montana in the title bout.
No other team in CAA Football has made more NCAA Playoff appearances (five) or won more conference championships (four) than the Spiders since 1998.
