John Bonamego signs extension with CMU through 2022

When he came on to campus as a newly-hired head football coach, John Bonamego, a 1987 graduate and former Chippewa footballer, said being the head coach at CMU was his “dream job.”

The dream will last for at least the next five years, as he and the school have come to terms on a contract extension through 2022. The move was announced via Twitter on Thursday evening.

Bonamego has gone 21-17 in three years at the helm for the Chips, qualifying for bowls in all three seasons. In that time, the Chips have collected multiple Power Five victories, including a Top 25 win on the road over Oklahoma State, and a MAC West co-championship.

The Chips are currently anticipating a Potato Bowl matchup against Wyoming, which could be the program’s ninth win in 2017, a mark which hasn’t been reached since the 12-win 2009 season.

“John is a tremendous leader, and his passion for CMU is unmatched,” Central Michigan associate vice president and director of athletics Michael Alford said in a press release. “He has developed his players academically, athletically and socially and has worked tirelessly to push our program forward. He has earned this commitment, and I am excited about the future of our football program under his leadership.”

Bonamego’s original deal, agreed upon in 2015, was a five-year contract with a base salary of $350,000 per year, with radio and media obligations to raise guaranteed salary up to $475,000. The deal also included cost-of-living increases.

Prior to the renegotiation, Bonamego’s salary was amongst the lowest in the FBS, ranking 103rd as of 2017, per USA Today. No financial terms have been disclosed on the current deal as of publication.