Conway, SC -- Coastal Carolina University awarded head football coach David Bennett with a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the Chanticleer program through at least 2010, the university announced Friday.

Bennett signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $110,000 for the 2005-06 year and includes built-in salary increases, according to the university. The agreement also includes improved contracts for assistant coaches, along with an incentive plan for the entire football program that rewards academic achievement, community service and athletic performance.

In just the second year of the program, Bennett led the Chanticleers to a 10-1 record and their first Big South Conference title. Coastal also made its first appearance in several national polls, including a 24th ranking in The Sports Network's season-ending poll.

Coastal Carolina's team also featured 14 All-Big South selections, including eight first team selections.

"I think the new contract will make a difference in recruiting," said Bennett, who is 16-6 in two seasons at Coastal Carolina. "The question of how long we (the coaching staff as a whole) were going to be at Coastal was brought up by one of our potential recruits. If I tell them I will be at Coastal, then I plan on being at Coastal."

Bennett, who is 79-23 overall as a head coach, including seven years at Catawba, was also named the American Football Coaches' Association Region 2 Coach of the Year. It was Bennett's fourth such award having won it three times at Catawba in 1995, 1999 and 2000.

"I can't think of a better place to raise your family and build your football program," Bennett said. "And this is not just our program, but it is the entire community's football program and we want to continue to make it something they can be proud of.

"We started this football program from the ground up and I wanted to see this program through. Coastal Carolina stuck with us in the beginning, and now we plan on being here for a while."