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UMass extends football coach Mark Whipple through 2020

University of Massachusetts football coach Mark Whipple received an extension through the 2020 season on Monday, the school announced.

The 2018 season will be Whipple's 11th coaching the Minutemen and the fifth at the FBS level.

"Mark is a true Minuteman having served our program as head coach in two different eras, for a combined 10 years. He has guided our young FBS program through some challenging times the last four years but has positioned us well for our future," athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a statement.

Whipple, 61, led UMass to the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) title in 1998 and is the program's winningest coach with 61 victories.

UMass entered the FBS level in 2014 in the Mid-American Conference but became an independent in 2016, finishing 4-8 last season.