Northwestern AD Jim Phillips agrees to contract extension through 2020

The Tribune has learned the school will announce this week -- as early as Wednesday -- that Phillips has agreed to an extension through 2020, matching the length of Pat Fitzgerald's deal. Just as Fitzgerald has the nation's lengthiest contract among football coaches, Phillips is believed to have the longest deal among athletic directors.

The announcement will be handled in a low-key fashion -- with a news release, not a news conference.

Teddy Greenstein