Houston -- Rice football coach David Bailiff signed a five-year contract just weeks after the Owls earned their first bowl victory in more than 50 years. Bailiff agreed in principle to the new deal in early January.

Bailiff told KPRC Local 2 Sports last month, " I appreciate their support of me and the program. I don't see any obstacles. I'll sit down and read it, and we'll get it done. I'm not concerned at all."

Rice SID Chuck Pool confirmed that Bailiff, a day after he signed 24 players for his 2009 class, signed the contract Thursday.

“From the first day he stepped on campus, David Bailiff has been dedicated to creating a winning and productive environment for our football team,” Rice AD Christ Del Conte said.

“He worked tirelessly to gain the trust of our players and his past season was culmination of those efforts. The Rice Owls have a winner in David Bailiff and I am happy to have completed this agreement. It is a statement of our commitment to Coach Bailiff and the program he is building,” Del Conte stated.

“I am thrilled about the commitment that Rice has made to myself and to my family,” Bailiff said. “I am excited about the progress that is being made in athletics under the direction of President Leebron and Chris Del Conte. We share a vision for the future of Rice and want to continue to build on the momentum from this past season,” he added.

The Owls notched their first bowl win since 1954 by beating Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl to finish the season 10-3. The Owls completed the program's first 10-win season since 1949. Bailiff previously coached at Texas State, where he went 21-15 in three seasons. He was hired by Rice in January 2007 to replace Todd Graham, who left after only one season to become coach at Tulsa.