Idaho State University Director of Athletics Jeff Tingey has signed a new two-year contract to remain in his current role, ISU Director of Human Resources Brian Sagendorf confirmed to the Journal on Thursday. Tingey’s current contract expires June 30, and his new multiyear agreement runs from July 2, 2017 to June 29, 2019. Sagendorf said Tingey and ISU President Arthur Vailas signed the new contract June 19.

“I love being a Bengal,” Tingey said.

“I’m excited about the opportunity of continuing to improve our facilities and working toward key goals and objectives and winning more championships.”

Tingey’s new annual base salary will be $150,467, up from his current salary of $144,664. Tingey can earn bonuses based on the athletic programs’ Academic Progress Rates (APR), fulfilling media obligations and improving ticket sales in football, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and volleyball by 10 percent over the prior year. Sagendorf said all terms, conditions and supplemental compensations of Tingey’s new contract are identical to those in his expiring contract. The only difference is the length of the contract, which is a year shorter than Tingey’s previous multiyear agreements.

Tingey has been ISU’s athletic director since July 1, 2009, after serving as the school’s acting athletic director from March 2008-June 2008 and interim athletic director from July 2008-June 2009.

Tingey has been lauded for reversing the financial debt of ISU’s athletics department that he inherited when he was named athletic director, as well as stabilizing ISU’s APR scores and making significant upgrades to multiple campus athletics facilities. ISU posted an institution-best four-year average APR of 980 in 2016. A perfect score is 1,000.

Tingey has also come under recent scrutiny. Last fall, the Bengals football team suffered its seventh losing season since Tingey took over, yet he did not immediately part ways with head coach Mike Kramer, who oversaw five losing seasons in six years. Kramer abruptly retired March 30 with one year remaining on his contract, but Tingey said Kramer would not have returned as head coach if he had not retired. The coaching change occurred one week before spring practices began.

The men’s basketball team, like the football team, has had one winning season during Tingey’s time as athletic director. The team’s ongoing scheduling and facilities conflicts force a seasonal switch between playing at Reed Gym and Holt Arena. Tingey announced plans to build a 4,000-seat, $20 million basketball arena in May 2015, but enough funds have not been raised to start construction.

“I have confidence in Jeff, and I’m pleased with the progress ISU Athletics continues to make under his leadership,” Vailas said. “The academic success our student-athletes achieve, including APR, is outstanding. Fundraising for ISU Athletics is up, student conduct is noteworthy, and a number of facility upgrades have been made. By in large, most of our teams are competitive in the Big Sky Conference, both in the classroom and during games. There are growth opportunities in football and men’s basketball, but Jeff remains committed to doing everything he can to raise ISU’s level of success.”