TEMPE - Lute Olson and Joan Bonvicini can both count on steady paychecks through 2009, though Olson will earn a base salary more than five times larger than Bonvicini's.
The Arizona Board of Regents yesterday approved five-year contract extensions for Olson, the head men's basketball coach, and Bonvicini, who heads the women's squad.
Olson will earn a base salary of $700,000 per year with the possibility for $355,000 in performance incentives, while Bonvicini will earn a salary of $135,000 with the possibility for $140,000 in incentives. In contrast, new UA football head coach Mike Stoops will earn a $450,000 base salary next season.
Neither coach will be paid using taxpayer funds because the athletics department receives no outside funding.
The largest single incentive in each contract is awarded if the coach leads a team to a national championship. Olson would receive $175,000 if the men's team won the title and Bonvicini would receive $50,000 if the women's team won it all.
The two coaches can receive a host of lesser incentives if they meet goals like high graduation rates or team GPAs, if they win certain numbers of games or if they win coaching awards.
Each coach also receives a variety of other benefits, including tickets to UA sporting events, use of a university car and a license to operate basketball camps at the UA.