Stanford announces three-year deal to keep coach Jim Harbaugh with Cardinal through 2014

Jim Harbaugh staying at Stanford through 2014

STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh’s long-awaited three-year contract extension is finally official.

The school announced a deal on Sunday that keeps Harbaugh under contract through 2014. The two sides were close to announcing the extension last year but put it on hold because of the troubled economy.

Athletic director Bob Bowlsby confirmed the deal was completed Saturday, but the official announcement was put on hold until after Saturday’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart finished second to Alabama’s Mark Ingram.

Harbaugh is finishing his third season at Stanford. He guided the 19th-ranked Cardinal (8-4) to their first bowl bid in eight years. They will face Oklahoma (7-5) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

“I am proud and thankful that Stanford and Bob Bowlsby have entrusted me with the opportunity to represent this great university as its football coach,” Harbaugh said. “I am committed to the Stanford model of striving for academic and athletic excellence. These past three years have convinced me that Stanford will win on the football field and continue to graduate young men who will be leaders in their chosen fields.”

Harbaugh has overseen a remarkable turnaround in his three years at Stanford. He arrived following the 2006 season, taking over a one-win team from Walt Harris that struggled to compete in the Pac-10.

But Harbaugh led the Cardinal to upsets of Southern Cal and rival California in his first season, then fell one win shy of a bowl berth in his second year before finally breaking through this season.

Led by Gerhart and redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck, the Cardinal had their best season in years. They beat Oregon and USC in consecutive weeks to move into the AP poll for the first time since 2001 and stayed in contention for a Pac-10 title until late in the season.

Gerhart is expected to enter the NFL draft, but Harbaugh will still have Luck and strong recruiting classes to build around.

“Jim and his staff have done an extraordinary job of revitalizing our football program,” Bowlsby said. “I am very excited to have Jim leading our efforts in the years ahead. Coach Harbaugh has energized our recruiting, improved competitiveness in all phases of the game and brought fun back to Stanford football.”