PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh basketball coach Jamie Dixon's contract was extended three seasons through the 2015-16 season Thursday, a deal that came two years following his last extension.

Dixon will receive a raise from his $1.3 million salary of last season, when he was the university's highest-paid employee.

Pitt may have felt an urgency to extend Dixon's contract so soon after giving him an extension through the 2012-13 season in March 2006 because other Big East coaches were beginning to sign more lucrative contracts.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins' contract, for example, guarantees him at least $20 million over 10 years, including $1.5 million this year.