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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:33 p.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2008

CFB: Turner Gill staying put in Buffalo with new contract

Associated Press

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo coach Turner Gill is staying put for at least one more season and won't consider interviewing for any other jobs after receiving a contract extension and pay raise.

The new deal was announced by the school on Tuesday, and is reward for a first-time coach who in three years turned around a program that was once of the worst in major college football.

The Bulls won their first Mid-American Conference title this season and will face Connecticut in the International Bowl at Toronto on Jan. 3.

Gill was a candidate for openings at Auburn and Syracuse.

Auburn hired Iowa State coach Gene Chizik and Syracuse went with New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone last week.

There was further speculation that Gill would be considered a candidate to take over at Iowa State.

Gill put an immediate end to any further speculation by saying he's not going anywhere.

"I'm going to be here at the University at Buffalo," the former Nebraska star said after practice. "I've given you my word, I've given my football team our word that I will be the football coach in 2009 at the University at Buffalo."

Terms of the extension were not released, but this is the second year Gill has earned a new contract. He signed an extension in January that locked him up through the 2012 season after Buffalo went 5-7 last season, the Bulls best record since joining the MAC in 1999.

Buffalo (8-5) has bettered that record this year and is coming off the program's biggest victory. The Bulls upset previously undefeated Ball State 42-24 in the MAC championship game on Dec. 5.

The Bulls have a 15-22 record in three years under Gill after going 10-69 in their previous seven seasons.