CARROLL GETS FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH USC DEAL REPORTEDLY WORTH $3 MILLION PER SEASON.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC coach Pete Carroll agreed to a five-year contract extension Wednesday that will initially be worth about $3 million per season, according to sources.

Exact terms were not released, but Carroll announced an agreement because he grew weary about rumors he would return to the NFL and wanted to assure recruits about his status.

``I'm going to keep rocking and rolling as long as we can go,'' Carroll said. ``There's so much speculation and I know the rush is going to hit me again. It's a good time to let everyone know. There will be a lot of movement in the NFL and I've been subject to a lot of speculation. I continually get asked.

``(USC) gave me an opportunity to be here a long time.''

The deal might be worth more symbolically to Carroll than anything else, because he essentially worked on a rollover contract since signing a five-year, $3 million deal in 2000.

He made $2,007,000 in 2004 according to university documents and his salary this year is more than $2.25 million.

Whether Carroll actually sees out the new five-year contract remains to be seen. He did not guarantee it Wednesday night.

``I can only think like I think,'' he said. ``I don't know how long I can coach. I don't know. I haven't been anywhere five years before. I never felt like I'd be somewhere the rest of my life. I don't have that in my faculties.''

In recent weeks, Carroll grew frustrated over blossoming stories throughout the NFL that his agent and friends put out feelers to NFL teams. Among the teams mentioned as a possible destination was the Minnesota Vikings.

That feeling gained credence because some of Carroll's associates told USC officials he might go back to the NFL if a team granted him complete control and paid an extraordinary salary.

But Carroll always denied any talk concerning a move to the NFL.

``It's not going to happen,'' he said.

Carroll acknowledged Wednesday that he is better suited to coaching college football, where his boyish enthusiasm plays better to college players than often-jaded professionals.

``It's a better choice for me. I think there's no question it fits beautifully,'' Carroll said. ``I love the environment. I love the whole energy level of the other sports on campus and the age of the kids.

``But I would have said the same thing about the NFL because I didn't know about this.''

Carroll agreed to his new contract during a meeting with athletic director Mike Garrett.

``We love what Pete is doing here,'' Garrett said in a statement. ``He does a great job winning games and graduating players. Pete wants to be at USC as long as he can and we want him here, too.''

Carroll knows that he can run USC's football program with complete control, something he can't do in the NFL, where a coach answers to a general manager.

``I have all the freedom you can dream of,'' Carroll said. ``I don't see any alternative that can match what we're doing.''

The NFL also penalizes successful teams by forcing them to draft last. In college football, Carroll can sign the nation's top players because of USC's back-to-back national championship and appearance in next week's Rose Bowl.

Carroll fielded a barrage of questions about his future, including the possibility of coaching an NFL team in Los Angeles. His closest friend, Pat Kirwan, previously said a Los Angeles NFL franchise would be the biggest prize to lure him from USC.

``That's a logical thing for people to think,'' Carroll said. ``But people who say that think the NFL is the end. It should be clear where we sit. It's a terrific opportunity for me at the university.''

USC players greeted the news as no-big deal.

``He was in the NFL, so he's not envious,'' defensive end Lawrence Jackson said. ``If he says he loves college football, then I believe him. Coach Carroll is like a movie star, an icon in L.A.''

Jackson said he asked Carroll when he was recruited if he would remain at USC for his college career and the question continued to dog Carroll this year. Or he heard rival colleges told recruits he might leave.

``I understand why the families want to know,'' Carroll said. ``I think it's important for people who follow the program, kids in the program and kids coming in.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) USC football coach Pete Carroll has led the Trojans to a 54-9 record and two national titles.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) no caption (Pete Carroll)

Box:

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