MADISON, Wis., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema Friday signed a lucrative new five-year contract with the Big Ten institution.
Bielema, who took over the program after former head coach Barry Alvarez retired in 2005 and became the school's athletic director, will be paid $7.5 million.
"I'm very grateful that the university administration and the regents have shown this level of confidence in our program," Bielema said on the school's Web site. "I appreciate their support and I will work, along with my staff, to justify that confidence by continuing to help our student-athletes grow academically, athletically and socially."
In his first season at the helm, the Badgers went 12-1 overall, 7-1 in league play, and ended the season with a 17-14 win over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl.
Wisconsin was No. 5 in the final ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.
