The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a $250,000 amendment to the salary of men's basketball coach Bo Ryan at their meeting Friday in Oshkosh, bringing his total salary for the 2007-08 year to $1.25 million.
Vince Sweeny, senior associate athletic director at UW, said the contract extension was well deserved and came after discussions with Ryan, Chancellor John Wiley and athletic director Barry Alvarez.
"Bo and his staff have done a tremendous job with our program, and we felt this was the right thing to do and the right time to do it," Sweeney said.
Ryan's pay increase came after he led UW to its first No. 1 national ranking in school history and a 30-6 season culminating in a trip to the NCAA tournament.
In a statement Friday, Ryan said he was thankful for the regents' decision and for UW's dedication to the program.
"The regents and the university administration have shown that they value a strong athletic program, one that builds well-rounded student athletes," Ryan said in the statement. "I am very thankful for their support. I plan to work to meet and exceed their expectations."
Ryan's base salary will remain unchanged at $400,000, but the second part of his salary will rise beginning June 1 from $300,000 to $550,000 for money generated through multimedia programs. According to the amendment, Ryan's salary generated from multimedia programs will also increase by $25,000 each year until 2010-11.
When asked if the decision to augment Ryan's pay had any connection with the recent Big Ten basketball coaches — like Tubby Smith in Minnesota — Sweeney said the groundwork was already laid before the competition entered the market.
"We began our conversations with him in mid to late February, so it had nothing to do with Tubby Smith or anything else," Sweeney said. "He's deserving of some adjustment of salary, initiated by last season."
Ryan has established a 142-55 record and has gone 68-28 versus Big Ten competition. He was also named the Clair Bee Coach of the Year and won the Rupp Cup National Coach of the Year Award for last season.
