Cardinals Coach Whisenhunt will stay in Arizona through 2013

As the honor for what he has brought to the Arizona Cardinals, the team offered a new four-year contract to Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who led the team to three consecutive winning seasons since his arrival. The new contract will keep him to coach players wearing Cardinals jerseys through at least 2013 season, with a team option for 2014 season.

“It is exciting that they think enough of me as a coach to do this,” Whisenhunt, who still has one year left on his current contract with a team option for 2011 season, told reporters. “The important thing is we have a system in place that’s produced pretty good results the last couple of years.”

Whisenhunt just deserves the honor. The Cardinals had just one winning season since 1984 and one playoff victory since 1947 before Whisenhunt’s arrival. The team finished the 2007 season 8-8, went 9-7 in 2008 and 10-6 last season after Whisenhunt signed his current four-year contract with Cardinals in January 2007. The coach also directed the team to its first consecutive division titles since 1975 and 13-5 against NFC West foes.