MORGANTOWN — WVU will not be searching for a new athletic director any time soon, as Wren Baker has reached a second contract extension with the school.

The extension that became official with Baker’s signature on June 5, keeps Baker tied to the university through Dec. 31, 2032, roughly 10 years after first bringing him to Morgantown from North Texas.

The second amendment adds two more years to Baker’s contract, as well as increasing some of his retention incentives.

WVU president Michael T. Benson announced Baker’s contract extension Thursday morning on MetroNews Talkline, but it was former president E. Gordon Gee who negotiated the deal with Baker.

“He has told me he is very happy here and his wife and daughters are very happy here,” Benson said on the radio show. “We have extended his contract. He is doing an unbelievable job. He is the new chair of the athletic directors within the Big 12. I have been on a few calls already with that group. He is very well-respected.”

So well respected that there had been whispers in recent months that Baker could be recruited away from WVU. His name had been associated with both Oklahoma and TCU as a potential candidate.

A native of Valliant, Okla., Baker will earn $1.3 million — plus incentives and a retention bonus — this year. In the additional seven years, his salary increases $100,000 each year. In 2032, Baker will earn $2 million.

Over the lifetime of the extension, Baker’s base salary will reach a combined $13.2 million, an average of $1.65 million per year.

His retention incentive — recorded July 1 of every year — also became more consistent.

Under the previous deal, Baker earned an additional $200,000 earlier this month, but was not due another retention bonus until 2026 and then again in 2028 and 2030.

Under the latest amendment, Baker will now earn a $200,000 retention bonus every July, except for 2030 and 2032, when it increases to $500,000.

The retention bonus is paid to Baker as long as he remains employed at WVU as of July 1 each year.

Gee completed the amendment by writing, “I extend and amend your appointment with pleasure for the continued benefit of West Virginia University.”

Baker’s buyout is $1 million if he were to leave for another school this year. It drops to $800,000 in 2026 and then drops a continual $200,000 per year through 2029.

From 2030-31, Baker’s buyout is $100,000 per year and it becomes $0 in 2032.

Baker was first hired at WVU as the school’s 13th athletic director on Nov. 30, 2022 and received his first contract extension in May of 2024.

His tenure at the school has covered many WVU athletic successes, but also some chaotic moments.

Over his first 30 months as the school’s athletic director, Baker has overseen three head coaching changes within the men’s basketball program, including the forced resignation of Hall-of-Fame coach Bob Huggins.

Baker also hired Rich Rodriguez as football coach after firing Neal Brown earlier this year.

He hired Mark Kellogg as the women’s basketball coach in 2023, after former coach Dawn Plitzuweit left after one season.

Steve Sabins also became the successor to former WVU baseball coach Randy Mazey under Baker’s watch.

In recent days, Baker successfully extended the contracts of both Kellogg, Sabins and rifle coach Jon Hammond, as well as finalizing the contract of WVU men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge.

“You look at the coaches he just extended a few days ago and the hire of Rich Rod has gotten people very animated and very excited, and coach Hodge,” Benson said. “I am very impressed with the operation and how well he is doing in terms of revenue generation and forward thinking about where we want to take the university.”