Rebounding from a losing campaign to a regular season SEC Championship was enough to earn Georgia coach David Perno accolades as one of the nation’s finest baseball coaches. Guiding the Bulldogs to within one victory of the national championship earned him millions.

Perno, who was named the UGA head coach in July 2001, has agreed to a new five-year, $2.25 million contract. Georgia director of athletics Damon Evans made the announcement Wednesday.

“I’m excited we have reached an agreement with David to ensure he will continue to build upon the tremendous success our baseball program has enjoyed under his guidance,” Evans said. “David has done an outstanding job, not only with producing winning teams but also creating great enthusiasm surrounding Georgia baseball. I’m looking forward to the future and the continued excellence of his teams.”

Perno’s deal calls for $450,000 per season over the next five years and replaces a five-year agreement slated to run through 2011, worth just over $300,000 per year.

The Bulldogs reached the finals of the 2008 College World Series where they fell to Fresno State in a best-of-three series.

“First of all, I’d like to say that I really enjoyed my discussions with Damon after the College World Series, and we’re excited about the future of the Bulldog baseball program,” Perno said. “I’m very pleased with the opportunity to be at Georgia and hope to be here a long time. The support we’ve received from our administration is very much appreciated.”

Perno has led Georgia to Omaha three times, making him just one of 12 coaches to take their team to the College World Series that many times in his first seven seasons. He also has CWS experience as a player. Perno was an infielder on the Bulldogs’ 1990 national championship squad, and he was an assistant coach for Georgia’s 2001 team that also won the SEC crown.

Perno took over for Ron Polk prior to the 2002 season.

He was named 2004 National Coach of the Year by Baseball America and College Baseball Insider. He also claimed SEC Coach of the Year honors that season as well as this year.

UGA entered the CWS as the No. 8 national seed and worked through what was generally considered the toughest bracket to reach the title series. The Bulldogs wrapped up the campaign with a 45-25-1 record.

“I’m going to miss those seniors, and I’m going to miss those juniors that were drafted,” Perno said. “It was a heck of a group. It was a bunch of great leaders and great people, first and foremost. I’m just very proud of them.”