clarinews@clarinet.com (01/17/90)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers have awarded Lindy Infante, the United Press International NFC coach of the year, with a two-year contract extension through the 1994 season along with a raise in salary. Infante, who was 4-12 in his first season in 1988, guided the Packers to a 10-6 record in 1989 and a tie for the Central Division title with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings took the title because of a better record against division opponents. Packer president Bob Harlan called Infante into his office Monday to give him the extension, which was announced Tuesday at a news conference. Infante's salary also has been raised for the 1991 and 1992 seasons ``in recognition of the talents he brings to this job,'' Harlan said. However no financial terms were released. ``We feel that this is a move which will stabilize and make a stronger football department for this franchise,'' Harlan said. ``We're just as delighted that Lindy's willing to make the commitment to stay in Green Bay.'' Infante said he was ``very excited'' about the extension. ``For Bob and the Packers to show enough confidence in me to extend the contract means a lot to me,'' he said. ``We're very happy here and I hope to coach here as long as Bob and the Packer organization want me to be here. ``Quite frankly, I feel like I've got the best head coaching job in the National Football League.'' In a way, Infante can thank the folks in his home state of Florida for the extension. Harlan admitted that rumors linking Infante's name to the vacant University of Florida coaching job helped urge him toward extending Infante's contract. ``Lindy came into my office and told me he had no interest in the Florida job,'' Harlan said, adding that Florida did not ask for permission to talk to the coach. ``I told him that I would like to sit down and discuss changes in his contract after the season concluded.'' Harlan and Infante talked three different times after the season ended, reached agreement last Friday and signed the contract Monday. There was little thought given to extending the contract for more than two years, Harlan said. ``As we go along and get two or three years into it, and if things change, and we feel it's time to sit down and talk again, I think we've already given an indication we'll add on to it,'' Harlan said. ``We want very much to keep the man here in Green Bay, and we thought this was a good step to take at this time.'' The Packer president also said concern about another NFL team or college going after Infante played a part in his desire to extend the contract. ``I don't want to worry about somebody making an approach to our coach,'' Harlan said. He said the extension not only recognized the Packers' recent success under Infante, but his success in handling the off-field aspects of the job as well. ``I think he also has great ability in dealing with the media, in having a feeling for the fans and what public relations means to the organization, and I think a great deal of credit has to go to both Lindy and his wife Stephanie for the class and dignity they've brought to this organization,'' Harlan said.