Pitt & Todd Graham Reach a Deal: Graham To Get $1.6 Million to Coach Panthers

Update: Todd Graham's salary is now reported to be in the $2 million range with a like amount for assistant coaches' pay.

In the final negotiations, Todd Graham, former Tulsa football coach, and the University of Pittsburgh have reached a deal.

Graham will be Pitt's new head football coach.

Pitt will introduce Graham in a press conference at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In December, Pitt had offered Graham $1.3 million, but according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pitt upped its offer to around $1.6 million as negotiations with Graham were heating up.

Graham has accepted that offer.

Graham's hiring will bring relief to long-suffering Pitt football fans who have been waiting for Pitt to name a successor to Mike Haywood, who was terminated by Pitt chancellor Nordenberg on Jan. 2, 2011.

Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson forced Dave Wannstedt, the coach Haywood was to replace, to resign on December 8, 2009.

At first, Pederson framed Wannstedt's resignation as a result of Pitt football players having been involved in four serious off-field incidents involving local authorities.

Finally, Pederson admitted last week in a statement to selected Pittsburgh media that Wannstedt was forced out because he did not win a Big East championship at Pitt.

In 2010, Wannstedt won a Big East title shared with Connecticut and West Virginia.

Graham impressed Pitt chancellor Nordenberg, who organized the search for Michael Haywood's replacement when the former Ohio University coach was arrested for domestic assault.

Barring any unforeseen snags, Graham will be formally announced by Pederson tomorrow.

Pitt will be Graham's third coaching destination since January 2006, when he accepted the Rice head football job. He lead the Owls to a 7-5 regular season record and their first bowl bid in 45 years.

After one season, Graham left Rice to return to Tulsa, where he posted a 36-17 record.

Although his background is in defense, Graham has the skill to hire excellent offensive coordinators at Tulsa, including Gus Malzahn who will coach the Auburn offense tonight in the BCS title game against Oregon.

Graham demanded and received from Tulsa the highest salary in Conference USA: $1.3 million per year, including enhancements.

With $1.6 million to start off at Pitt, he will be the highest paid football coach in Pitt history.