Leonhard, Rudolph earn big pay hikes
MADISON – The amended contracts approved in February by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents should move UW’s Jim Leonhard and Joe Rudolph up significantly in annual compensation for football assistants among all FBS schools.
Both contracts run through Jan. 31, 2021.
Leonhard, entering his second season as defensive coordinator/secondary coach and third season overall on the staff, is to be paid a total of $966,666 next season. That includes a base salary of $304,800, another $495,200 from the UW Foundation and a retention bonus of $166,666.
He is to receive a bonus of $166,667 after the 2019 and ’20 seasons.
Leonhard’s annual compensation package last season was $600,000, the No. 66 mark nationally according to USA Today.
Florida defensive coordinator Randy Shannon was No. 17 nationally in assistants’ pay last season at $976,500.
Rudolph, entering his fourth season as UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach, is to be paid a total of $775,000 next season. That includes a base salary of $304,800, another $420,000 from the UW Foundation and a retention bonus of $50,000.
Rudolph is to receive a bonus of $50,000 after the 2019 and ‘20 seasons.
Rudolph’s 2017 annual compensation package was $654,800, the No. 51 mark nationally according to USA Today.
South Carolina defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson was No. 36 nationally in assistants’ pay last season at $750,000.
The top assistant was LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda at $1.8 million. Aranda was UW’s defensive coordinator from 2013 through ’15.
Bobby April III, entering his first season as UW’s outside linebackers coach, is to be paid $300,000. His contract runs through June 30, 2019.
He replaced Tim Tibesar, who was paid $350,000 last season.
The UW Board of Regents in February also approved amended contracts for head coach Paul Chryst and athletic director Barry Alvarez.
Chryst is scheduled to be paid a total of $3.75 million in 2018 and ’19. That includes a base salary of $400,000 and $3.35 million from the UW Foundation.
He then receives an additional $100,000 annually through the length of his contract, which ends Jan. 31, 2023.
Chryst’s annual compensation package last season $3.2 million, ninth in the Big Ten and 36th nationally.
Purdue coach Jeff Brohm recently agreed to a contract extension and will be paid $3.8 million in 2018. His annual compensation package in 2017 was $3,333,333, the No. 8 mark in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally.
Alvarez’s current contract runs through Jan. 31, 2021. He is to be paid $1.175 million annually, including a base salary of $500,000 and $675,000 from the UW Foundation.
He is to receive an annual bonus of $375,000. The fourth bonus is set to be paid on Jan. 1, 2022, meaning Alvarez likely will remain on as athletic director at least through the 2021 football season.
UW is scheduled to face Notre Dame on Oct. 3, 2020, in Green Bay and on Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago.