Coming in the wake of last week’s stunning 15 year contract extension with the SEC, ESPN has further solidified its hold in college sports with another long-term deal signed with the Western Athletic Conference on Wednesday. It’s a seven year deal starting in 2010-11 and ending in 2016-17.

The WAC had been seeking wider exposure and had been talking with ESPN over the last 20 months over a new contract. The talks finally came to a head with the new agreement.

Darrell Moody of the Nevada Appeal writes that persistence paid off for the WAC.

The Honolulu Advertiser says the new deal will double football broadcasts and provide the WAC with must needed exposure.

Tim Stephens of the Orlando Sentinel says WAC Commissioner Karl Benson couldn’t be happier with the new contract.

Felix Chavez from the Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News tells us the new contract will take effect when the current agreement expires in two seasons.

Here are key details of the new agreement:

Football

Exclusive national television home of the conference:

• An annual minimum of 10 games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, including telecasts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
• An annual minimum of six games on ESPNU.
• ESPN Regional Television has the right to syndicate five games annually.
• ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV will be able to simulcast any ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC telecast.
• WAC content will also be available on ESPN Classic, ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile Properties.

Men’s Basketball

Exclusive national television home of the conference:

• An annual minimum of six regular-season games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC as well as one conference tournament semifinal game and the championship during Championship Week.
• An annual minimum of six regular-season games on ESPNU as well as one conference tournament quarterfinal game.
• Every WAC team will participate in the ESPNU BracketBuster event.
• ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV will be able to simulcast any ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC telecast.
• WAC content will also be available on ESPN Classic, ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile Properties.

Women’s Sports

• ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will provide extensive coverage of women’s basketball and Olympic sports, including six regular-season events (a combination of basketball, volleyball and softball) in 2008-09. The number of events will increase to seven in 2009-10 and to eight for the remaining years of the contract.
• ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU will televise the volleyball championship each year.
• The conference women’s basketball championship will be available on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU annually.

No word on how much ESPN will be paying annually. I’m sure it’s not in the SEC range, but it’s enough to make WAC member schools quite happy.