Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the most recent reporting.
Frank Solich isn’t quite ready to retire yet.
The 75-year-old coach is set to be with Ohio beyond its game in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Friday in Boise, Idaho, and has signed a multi-year contract extension, The Post confirmed Tuesday with the Ohio athletic department.
Solich, who is the oldest coach in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, will finish his 15th season with Ohio after the bowl game. He owns a 112-81 record with the Bobcats — he’s 170-100 overall including six seasons with Nebraska — and owns the most wins ever by a Mid-American Conference coach.
The Bobcats have four bowl wins in 10 appearances under Solich and have not won a Mid-American Conference Championship Game in four appearances; the last MAC Championship win came in 1968. This season, he led the Bobcats to a 6-6 regular season record and broke the MAC coaching record on Nov. 19 against Bowling Green.
Solich, whose contract was set to expire on Thursday following the bowl game, has now received eight total extensions since he joined the program in 2005. His newest extension is the most significant action athletic director Julie Cromer has made since she was hired in August.
Solich’s most recent extension came on June 27, 2018, three days before his contract was set to expire. His base salary before the extension was $524,928.
Given his age, Solich may have signed his final contract extension. The Bobcats want Solich to leave Athens with a MAC title, and the window for doing that is still open, but the extension will give Solich another chance to do that.
Next season, Ohio will lose senior quarterback Nathan Rourke, who is the program’s all-time leader in touchdowns. Kurtis Rourke, Nathan’s brother, is the likely replacement. He made one appearance against Bowling Green before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
Kickoff for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is set for 3:30 p.m. EST on Friday at Albertsons Stadium.
