It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally official.

Mississippi State and Dan Mullen agreed to an extension through the 2018 season, announced Thursday night.

“Dan has done a phenomenal job in leading our football team the past six years,” AD Scott Stricklin said in a release. “And we’re happy to be in a position to reward his efforts while making sure he’ll be able to continue building a championship program for Mississippi State.”

Mullen will be paid $4 million in 2015, but it will escalate in the future. The new deal will pay Mullen an average of $4.275 million per year over the next four years. He earned about $3 million in 2014.

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“It’s a privilege to represent our university, our program and our fans here at Mississippi State,” Mullen said in the same release. “I appreciate Scott Stricklin and our administration who have given us the tools and resources to be successful and develop Bulldog football into a national brand over the last six years.”

Mullen has changed the game at Mississippi State and has taken the program to new heights in recent years, and the program is rewarding him for accomplishing that feat.

Mullen is 46-31 (.597) in six seasons, and he’ll join Steve Spurrier, Mark Richt and Bret Bielema in the $4 million club in 2015. You can see all the SEC head coaching salaries here.