Bonuses could push pay for Illinois' Whitman to $800,000

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - First-year University of Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman can receive bonuses of up to $200,000 a year in addition to his $600,000 base salary under the terms of his five-year contract.

Whitman was hired in February to replace Mike Thomas. Whitman's salary was announced at the time but other details were still being finalized and were released Wednesday.

Bonuses include up to $70,000 a year for athletic success such as Big Ten titles, football bowl-game appearances, NCAA Tournament appearances for men's and women's basketball and national championships. Whitman could be paid up to $70,000 for students hitting academic benchmarks and up to $60,000 if he meets fundraising goals.

Whitman will also have the use of two vehicles.

Thomas was paid $475,000 a year plus bonuses. He was fired in November.