Texas approves contracts for football assistants

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The University of Texas Board of Regents has approved contracts for new football coach Charlie Strong's assistants.

Texas is giving each of the 10 assistants a two-year contract with an option for a third year. That's a change at a school that typically puts them on a year-to-year basis.

Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford will get the largest salary at a base of $760,000. Quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach Shawn Watson will make $610,000. Bedford and Watson came with Strong from Louisville.

Offensive coordinator Joe Wickline, who Strong hired from Oklahoma State, will be paid $535,000.

Although the staff has been on the job for weeks, their salaries and contracts had to be approved by the board. The board approved the contracts with a unanimous vote Thursday.