When Biddy Martin takes over as University of Wisconsin chancellor in September, one of her top priorities is to address faculty salaries and the retention of top scholars and scientists at the school.

When UW athletic director Barry Alvarez sits down with Martin later this summer, he might be able to offer some insight on the topic.

"You have to always be aware of the market and what the market's paying unless you want a mass exodus and a constantly revolving door with your coaches," Alvarez said recently. "If you have a good coach, you have to keep him in the market and pay him accordingly. That's what I've tried to do."

A close look at compensation packages for UW Athletic Department personnel during the 2007-08 school year appears to bear out that effort.

According to financial records obtained from the school, two individuals topped $1 million, 15 exceeded $150,000 and more than two dozen topped $100,000.

It's no surprise that Bret Bielema, who will begin his third season as UW football coach in 2008, tops the list with more than $1.4 million earned during the recent school year. Much of that came from his base salary of $1.3 million, but Bielema also made $100,000 from the school's exceptional achievement bonus program, reported $42,542.40 in outside income such as speaking engagements, and $1,000 from summer camps conducted on the Madison campus.

Men's basketball coach Bo Ryan was the other employee of UW Athletics to top $1 million. He received $950,000 in salary, $200,000 in performance bonuses, $45,000 in camps and $26,500 in outside income sources for a total of $1.221 million.

Five of the top 10 compensation packages belong to UW assistant coaches. Paul Chryst, the offensive coordinator under Bielema, was fourth on the list with $350,500 in income, while defensive coordinator Dave Doeren was seventh at $232,685, Greg Gard from men's basketball was eighth at $183,587, Gary Close from men's basketball was ninth at $165,587, and football assistant Henry Mason was 10th at $164,200.

Others in the top 10 include Alvarez, third at $630,000; women's basketball coach Lisa Stone, fifth at $288,205; and men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, sixth at $249,987.

In all, 16 coaches earn a base salary in excess of $100,000.

Alvarez, the UW football coach for 16 years before becoming full-time AD in 2006, said he closely monitors national salary trends for coaches.

"Mark Johnson wins a couple national championships, you look at all the women's hockey coaches — where he is and where they are — and put him in accordingly. Same with Bo," Alvarez said. "We aren't at the top of the rung. We're competitive. I think it's fair. Having been on that side of it, I think I have sensitivity towards that and I have sensitivities towards the type state we're in and the issues we have to deal with here budgetarily."

It might surprise you to know the two biggest camp payouts involved coaches from outside the top-tier programs: football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's hockey and volleyball.

Men's soccer coach Jeff Rohrman made $53,500 from his offseason camps, while men's track coach Ed Nuttycombe made $53,000.

In addition to salaries paid through the school and, in some cases, augmented by booster groups, UW Athletic Department administrators and coaches must report all sources of outside income.

That includes everything from proceeds for instructional videos, speaking engagements, media shows, off-campus camp appearances and book royalties.