The University of Minnesota Duluth and head football coach Curt Wiese have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep him on the Bulldog sidelines through the 2022-23 season.

"I'm appreciative of the support Chancellor Lendley Black, (UMD Athletic Director) Josh Berlo and (Sport Administrator) Karen Stromme have given our program over the last six seasons," said Wiese. "They have allowed us to achieve great success both on and off of the field.

"I am also fortunate to work with a talented staff and football team. We understand it takes everyone in and around our program to continue to build upon the foundation that has been laid within UMD football. I appreciate being part of this storied program and look forward to being here for many more seasons to come."

Wiese is in his seventh season of head coaching duty at UMD and 12th year with the Bulldog program, having handled the team's offensive coordinator role from 2008-2012. Since taking over as the UMD's sixth head coach, Wiese had directed the Bulldogs to a 63-12 overall record (for an. 840 winning percentage -- the best mark in the program's 86-year history), four NCAA Division II playoff appearances, two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships, six consecutive NSIC North Division titles, and two perfect 11-0 regular season finishes.  He's also helped produce 22 different All-Americans and 38 All-NSIC first team selections while seeing his Bulldogs have earned NSIC All-Academic status 92 times. That included three CoSIDA Academic All-American first team honorees in wide receiver Jason Balts (2017), offensive lineman Andrew Pattock (2013) and defensive end Nick Thorpe (2017).

Wiese's 63 victories over the past six years is bettered by only one other NCAA II coach in the entire country and by just three other programs.  In 2013 he was selected the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for Division II, a prestigious honor recognizing coaches for their responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and excellence, on and off the field. Three years later, Wiese counted himself among the 10 head football coaches nationwide who were finalists for a spot on the  Allstate Insurance and American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

"Curt Wiese is an exceptional leader of Bulldog football and a great role model for the young men on his team," said Berlo. "We are thrilled to continue to have him at the helm of this nationally-renowned program.  Curt and his family are an asset to Bulldog athletics, UMD and the community."

"We are extremely fortunate to have Curt continue his outstanding leadership on and off the field with UMD football," added Stromme. "He is the consummate professional who genuinely cares for his student-athletes, fellow coaches and our community.