Texas Longhorns give two-year extension to Mike Perrin as AD

The tenure of Texas Longhorns interim athletic director Mike Perrin will last well past the August 2016 expiration of his original contract, as the Austin-American Statesman broke the news Wednesday evening that president Greg Fenves is giving Perrin a two-year contract, news quickly confirmed by numerous other outlets.

Early Wednesday, a source told Horns247 that the administration is "strongly considering" removing that interim label and on Thusday, the move became official, as Perrin received a contract extension that will last through the 2017-18 academic year.

"Since Mike became interim AD, he has proved to be a resourceful and valuable asset to the athletics department, improving relationships with our fans and alumni," Fenves said in a statement. "His experiences as a student-athlete and a successful lawyer and businessman have given him unique insight that complements his strong leadership. I am confident Mike will continue bringing positive change and pride to our Men's Athletics Department."

The football letterman who played under Darrell K Royal in the late 1960s as a linebacker and defensive end took over for the ousted Steve Patterson back in September and has drawn favorable reviews for his decisions.

"I am excited to continue the work I've begun over the past three months in moving Texas Sports forward, and I thank President Fenves for this opportunity," Perrin said in the school's release. "I am already working closely with coaches in all sports to provide the support they need to win on the field and prepare their students for life off the field. And I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the backing I've received from alumni, faculty and fans."

Not only was Perrin an All-SWC performer during his playing days, he was also a leader in the Texas Cowboys service organization and an Academic All-American who went on to earn post-graduate scholarships from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

After graduating with a BA in Mathematics in 1969, Perrin went to UT Law, finishing his Juris Doctorate in 1971. By 1987, he was named as a "comer" in the new establishment of Texas power brokers by Texas Monthly:

Leader of younger generation of politically active plaintiff's attorneys. Also could go on "Couples" list with wife, Melinda, daughter of former attorney general and Chief Justice John Hill.

Perrin also remained active as an advisor on campus academic endeavors and to Texas athletics as member of the Council for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, earning induction into the Texas Hall of Honor in 2010 and receiving a Presidential Citation for that work from Bill Powers in April of 2015.

Until taking over as the athletic director, Perrin was practicing law in Houston and was a noted personal injury attorney.

One of his first acts after taking over was fulfilling his promise to "reach out to the entire Longhorn nation" by going on a whirlwind tour of important constituents before the Cal game. Since then, he's promised the support for head football coach Charlie Strong that was lacking under Patterson and froze football ticket prices for the next two years.

Perhaps his biggest contribution, however, was altering course and negotiating the record-setting shoe and apparel deal with Nike, preserving what he considered an important relationship and further proving that he is the anti-Steve Patterson.

While Patterson was able to navigate the Longhorns through two coaching changes in the two major sports, the rest of his tenure was an abject disaster, so moving in the exact opposite direction made sense for Texas and Perrin made a strong case to keep the job that the Texas president noticed and rewarded.