Skip Holtz has lifted East Carolina's football program into the national spotlight, and the university is rewarding him with a contract that could total $9.5 million.

The ECU Board of Trustees officially approved a six-year agreement Friday that will guarantee the Pirates' coach $4.07 million, or $678,333 per year.

With incentives and bonuses, the amount could reach $9.5 million, or $1.5 million per year through 2013. That doesn't mean other schools still won't come after the popular coach, who has guided the Pirates to a 3-1 record that includes victories over Virginia Tech and West Virginia en route to a No. 23 national ranking.

If he should take another job, Holtz would have to pay ECU $100,000 in a buy-out clause. In recent times, Holtz has said he and his family "love" living in Greenville.

"The contract is consistent with our desire to continue the tremendous strides has football program has made over the past four years," athletic director Terry Holland said in a statement. "One of the keys to our growth has been the stability of leadership ..."

Holtz, 44, inherited a program in 2005 that had won three games and lost 20 the two previous seasons. He quickly rebuilt the Pirates, leading ECU to bowl games in 2006 and '07.

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