Jimbo Fisher signs new contract with Florida State

It might not extinguish reports that Texas has interest in luring him away, but Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher and the university administration made a commitment Tuesday they are perfectly happy continuing their long-term marriage.

Before leaving with his No. 1-ranked FSU football team for a flight to California Tuesday morning, Fisher signed a contract extension that would keep him with the Seminoles through the 2018 season. Details were not released, but the deal is expected to make him one of the nation's 10 highest-paid coaches.

"I'm very happy to be there; they're happy to have me," Fisher said, when asked what the new contract says about his long-term future with the Seminoles. "Hopefully that relationship will go on for a long time."

Fisher made his first public comments about the contract during a BCS National Championship Game news conference at Disneyland.

"We've had a great year," Fisher said. "I love working there. I love being there. I'm very comfortable."

FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox said he has been working with Fisher's agent for more than two months on the new contract.

"We are extremely pleased with the direction of our program and believe that this new contract will assure that Coach Fisher is in place to lead the Seminoles for a long time to come," Wilcox said in a university-released statement. "Coach Fisher enjoys the full support of the leadership of the university, and we look forward to the continued success of our football program on the field and in the classroom."

Sources told the Democrat after the ACC Championship Game in early December that Fisher was going to earn at least $4 million per year plus incentives. The fourth-year head coach had been in the second year of a five-year deal that paid him $2.75 million annually.

Fisher, who has led the Seminoles to a 13-0 record and an appearance in the Jan. 6 championship game against Auburn, has been one of several coaches to be linked to the Texas search.

While it took several weeks to finalize the deal, Fisher said that was not a sign of any issues with the negotiations. But he added that he was glad to get it taken care of before beginning practices in California.

"It was because I didn't get it (the contract) until Saturday," Fisher said with a laugh. "We had agreed on terms long ago during the season. But when lawyers get involved, you know how things can take a little while. …

"I'm happy to be at Florida State."

Ira Schoffel writes for the Tallahassee Democrat.