Air Force coach Calhoun agrees in principle to new 5-year deal

1/11/2008 6:55 PM

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -The Air Force Academy and coach Troy Calhoun agreed in principle Friday to a new five-year deal.

The terms of the contract weren't released because it still must be approved by the academy. The deal would keep Calhoun at Air Force through the 2012 season.

In his first season at Air Force, Calhoun led the Falcons to a 9-4 record and a spot in the Armed Forces Bowl, where the team lost 42-36 to California on New Year's Eve.

Calhoun was named the Mountain West Conference's coach of the year in December.

He took over the program from Fisher DeBerry last December following DeBerry's retirement after 27 years at the school, including. A 1989 Air Force graduate, Calhoun was the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans before accepting the Air Force position.

The Falcons won five more games in 2007 than the previous season, making it the second-biggest turnaround in school history. The nine wins were also Air Force's most since 2002.