Hugh Freeze and Liberty have agreed on a new contract covering eight seasons and averaging nearly $5 million per year, sources told FootballScoop on Friday.
ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news.
The news comes as Freeze has Liberty at 7-1 before heading to Arkansas after their current off week. Having lost quarterback Malik Willis to the NFL draft, the Flames are a 2-point conversion at No. 10 Wake Forest away from entering November undefeated.
The contract is a move by Liberty to lock up Freeze before an anticipated opening at Auburn, among other Power 5 positions already opened or expected to open in this coaching cycle. The 53-year-old stands to be a natural candidate for a hypothetical opening on the Plains given his ongoing success at Liberty and his 5-year run at Ole Miss, which culminated with a Sugar Bowl victory and an AP Top 10 ranking in 2015.
The contract is fully guaranteed on Liberty's end, but sources indicate the buyout would not be prohibitive should a Power 5 program come after Freeze.
Freeze is 33-12 in nearly four full seasons at Liberty, complete with a 10-1 record and an AP Top 20 ranking in 2020.
Liberty is set to join Conference USA next fall and will become instant favorites to win the league upon arrival.
Sources: Hugh Freeze and Liberty have agreed to a new contract through the 2030 season. It’s an 8-year contract that’s fully guaranteed and averages just under $5 million per year over the course of the deal.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 28, 2022
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