CU, Mike MacIntyre agree to contract extension through 2021

As many eyes focus on the Denver Broncos head coaching search, the University of Colorado has wrapped up Mike MacIntyre for an additional three years, extending the Buffaloes head coach’s contract through the 2021 season.

According to a release on the university’s athletics website, the now-five-year contract will earn MacIntyre $16.25 million should it be approved by the CU Board of Regents.

“I am ecstatic that we will be at the University of Colorado for the foreseeable future; there’s no place my family and I would rather be,” MacIntyre said in a statement released by the university. “We absolutely love it here. The people have been great, and I truly believe this is just the beginning.”

MacIntyre, 51, concluded his fourth season in Boulder in 2016 with by far the most successful campaign of his tenure at CU, finishing with a 10-4 record and ranked at No. 17 in the Associated Press’ end of the year poll.

In his previous three seasons at CU, MacIntyre’s Buffs won just a combined 10 games.

In 2016 alone, the Buffaloes 7-1 in conference play after going 2-25 in league games from 2013 to 2015, representing the largest improvement in the Pac-12’s 101-year history.

MacIntyre also led the Buffs to a Pac-12 South Division title and its first conference championship game since the Big 12 Championship in 2005.

A loss to Washington, however, would land CU in the Alamo Bowl, where the Buffaloes fell to Oklahoma State 38-8.

So far this postseason, MacIntyre has won seven national coach of the year awards, and he could pull in another Tuesday should he win the American Football Coaches Association award.

“We’re really happy about extending Mike’s contract out through 2021,” CU athletic director Rick George said in a release. “Continuity and consistency are the most important factors for us as continue to build our program. So, we’re obviously excited that he will continue to serve in that leadership role.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.