University president Andrew Sorensen and athletic director Mal Moore met with DuBose in Miami on Wednesday, where the Crimson Tide is practicing for the Jan. 1 Orange Bowl.

"I can't say enough about how proud I am of coach DuBose and the entire football staff for their accomplishments this season and the classy way they have run their program," Moore said in a statement. "This agreement gives our coaching staff the security they deserve and need."

The university trustees' Compensation Committee approved the extension Tuesday for two years, through January of 2004. DuBose is also promised a $25,000 bonus if he wins the Paul W. Bryant Coach of the Year award, given by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

DuBose has been named one of seven finalists for the award, to be given Jan. 6 in Houston.

The contract extension will restore time stripped away as punishment following a sexual harassment scandal last summer. The two years had previously been given to DuBose last January, then were taken away after the scandal.

The bonus was guaranteed under DuBose's contract, which pays him 16.66 percent of his $150,000 base salary for taking the Crimson Tide to the SEC Conference championship and a bowl.

"We're very fortunate that the university gave us an opportunity to coach this year," DuBose said at a post-practice news conference Tuesday. "It makes for a wonderful finish to a wonderful year for us."

Asked about the timing of the new contract, Sorensen said, "This is as good a time as any."

DuBose said the contract wasn't signed earlier because he left Tuscaloosa on Dec. 22 for the Christmas holidays, and because of his grandmother's death last week.

The athletics oversight committee was created after trustees were left uninformed about the university's settlement with a female worker who accused DuBose of sexual harassment. The school agreed to pay the woman $350,000 to avoid a court fight.

DuBose initially denied any involvement with the woman, and some trustees felt he should have been fired when he later admitted lying about the relationship. But the coach quickly regained support as the Tide went 10-2, earned the No. 5 national ranking, won the SEC title and earned the bowl berth against No. 8 Michigan.

"I may be speaking out of school here, and I don't mean to be doing that," DuBose said, "but I think most people felt like it was just a matter of time, because of the type year we've had and where the program is at."