Tennessee’s football coaches can expect contract extensions and renewals for helping the Vols bounce back from their first losing season since 1988.

"I think it would be reasonable to expect absolutely our coaches will receive extensions," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said Monday. "They’ve done, in my mind, a very nice job this season, and they’re very deserving of that."

Hamilton said he would wait until after UT’s Jan. 1 game against Penn State in the Outback Bowl to discuss possible raises.

Based on preliminary discussions, UT coach Phillip Fulmer said he anticipates extensions and raises for his assistant coaches.

Fulmer, whose deal runs through December 2011, said he has not spoken with Hamilton about his own contract.

Fulmer’s total salary of $2.05 million puts him in the top 10 nationally. He trails only Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville ($2.23 million) among SEC coaches.

Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe and defensive coordinator John Chavis each earns $300,000 annually and are under contract through June 2008.

Tennessee’s seven position coaches are all under contract through June of 2007, with an average salary of about $137,500. Position coaches worked without contracts prior to this season.

A victory over Penn State would give the Vols their ninth 10-win season in Fulmer’s 14 full seasons as head coach and their third double-digit win total in the last four seasons.

Coming off a 5-6 season, that would be a "significant accomplishment," Hamilton said.

"I’m very pleased with the response to last year’s season," Hamilton said. "The reality is we’re probably a couple plays from playing for something a lot bigger. If we’d been fortunate enough to get a field goal at the end against Florida or to have a play work the right way against LSU or a call go the right way against LSU, then maybe we’re sitting here today at 11-1 or 10-2. The margin in this league for success and even greater success is very small, but I feel like we’ve made great strides this season."

The next steps would be an SEC championship and a BCS bowl.

Despite advancing to the SEC championship game in 2001 and 2004, the Vols have not won a conference title since 1998 and haven’t played in a BCS game since the Fiesta Bowl following the 1999 season.

Hamilton said the football program is on the right track.

"This group of seniors and the guys on this team have set the foundation to accomplish some really nice things over the next few years," he said. "We had the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the country two years ago, and we’re in the middle of what I think is going to be a very good recruiting season this season.

"So I think we’re well positioned to accomplish the goals we’ve got in front of us."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.