Bowden agrees to extension amid Arkansas reports

pstrelow@ thestate.com

Updated: 2:50 p.m.
CLEMSON – After mulling an offer to become Arkansas’ coach, Tommy Bowden has agreed to remain at Clemson.

The school announced late Tuesday morning that Bowden had agreed to a contract extension. Terms will be released at a later date.

“I’m very pleased with the contract extension agreement that we reached today,” Bowden said in a prepared statement.

Clemson hopes to make Bowden available to the media this afternoon. Bowden is slated to visit at least one recruit later today.

Athletic director Terry Don Phillips was scheduled to fly from New York to Clemson late this morning for negotiations, but the resolution might allow him to remain for the College Football Hall of Fame induction of former Clemson standout Jeff Davis.

In its initial contract extension offer last week, Clemson would have kept Bowden’s buyout at $2.5 million. Bowden sought to boost that clause to perhaps as high as $4 million for job security purposes.

Bowden also attempted to secure multi-year contracts for all nine of his assistant coaches.

Bowden has informed Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long of his intention.