In a September 1 meeting, Wisconsin head football coach Paul Chryst received a significant raise just before the 2021 season began. The details of the contract became public on Monday, as UW released them due to a public records request made on the day of the meeting.
In the closed meeting, the UW Board of Regents approved a deal that takes Chryst’s salary from $4.35 million to $5.25 million.
The reasoning provided by new AD Chris McIntosh started with the fact that this raise was supposed to happen in 2020 following a Wisconsin Rose Bowl appearance. The COVID-19 pandemic caused financial issues and forced Chryst, along with many Wisconsin athletics personnel, to take a pay cut.
With finances trending in the right direction, McIntosh and the UW Board of Regents made the move before this season got underway.
“I made the decision at the time based on the performance of our coach, and that’s what we did,” said McIntosh on Monday.
The specifics of the contract are that $400,000 comes from the Wisconsin athletic department, with the rest paid by the UW Foundation. While Chryst earns $5.25 million this season, his pay will be upped by $100,000 in each ensuing season beginning in 2023. The deal lasts for five seasons.
With Wisconsin sitting at 1-3 after a rough start to the 2021 campaign, McIntosh also mentioned that the current Badger record doesn’t change his feelings on Chryst’s new deal. While the timing isn’t ideal for optics, this is a deal that was worked out before the season began. Chryst didn’t officially sign the new deal until September 10.