Chris McIntosh earned more in bonuses as University of Wisconsin athletic director in the 2024-25 season than all but one Badgers coach.
McIntosh qualified for a bonus of more than $76,000 in the first year of a reworked contract that includes incentive compensation tied to athletes’ academic performance and coaching bonuses.
Only Badgers women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson had a higher bonus than McIntosh did in 2024-25. Johnson earned $168,835.35 — 40% of his salary — for winning the NCAA championship and league and national coach of the year awards.
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The next-highest bonus for a Badgers coach was $53,245.74 to volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield, whose team made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
McIntosh’s contract was reworked in July 2024 and now includes two components that contribute toward incentive compensation. One is based on academics: He gets a $30,000 bonus for an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 92% and $50,000 if the GSR is 93% or higher.
Wisconsin had a 94% GSR for the 2023-24 season in figures released by the NCAA in November 2024, so McIntosh got the $50,000 bonus.
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh qualified for more than $76,000 in bonuses under an incentive plan in his contract.
The second part of the bonus is 7.5% of the total incentive compensation earned by the Badgers’ 18 head coaches. Nine of them qualified for bonuses in 2024-25 totaling $351,384.92, according to athletic department documents the university provided to BadgerExtra through public records requests.
McIntosh’s 7.5% share of that total was $26,353.87, bringing his bonus to $76,353.87. He has a yearly cap of $200,000 on his incentive pay in his contract.
McIntosh had a salary of $1.45 million in 2024-25 when combining his base salary and money from an additional compensation agreement. That automatically bumped up to $1.5 million for 2025-26 according to his five-year contract.
Three coaches from Badgers spring sports combined for more than $48,000 in bonuses under Wisconsin’s policy rewarding them for team performance and coaching awards.
Director of cross country and track and field Mick Byrne earned $37,977.68, which is 17% of his salary. The Wisconsin men’s cross country team won the Big Ten championship last November, and that provides a 5% bonus for coaches. There was another 5% for a team appearance in the NCAA championship. Byrne got a 2% bonus for being named the Big Ten coach of the year.
Track coaches got a 5% bonus for the individual NCAA championship won in the shot put by the Badgers’ Jason Swarens.
Women’s tennis coach Kelcy McKenna got a 5% bonus, or $7,957.60, after the Badgers qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Men’s rowing coach Beau Hoopman earned a $2,849.54 bonus (3%) for leading Wisconsin to an appearance at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships.
Wisconsin coaches and strength coaches qualified for a total of $604,138.67 in bonuses in 2024-25, which was 22% lower than the total from the year before. Much of the difference was because there were no bonuses for football coaches after a 2024 season that finished with a losing record.
Bonuses for Wisconsin coaches, Spring 2025
| Coach | Position | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Mick Byrne | Director of cross country and track and field | $37,977.68 |
| Aaron Watson | Cross country and track and field assistant coach | $11,557.54 |
| Lindsay Crevoiserat | Cross country and track and field assistant coach | $11,390.04 |
| Dave Astrauskas | Track and field assistant coach | $9,281.49 |
| Kelcy McKenna | Women’s tennis head coach | $7,957.60 |
| Kareem Jackson | Track and field associate head coach | $5,369.42 |
| Nate Davis | Track and field assistant coach | $5,000.15 |
| Chris Clark | Director of rowing | $3,829.59 |
| Marek Michalicka | Women’s tennis assistant coach | $3,399.83 |
| Beau Hoopman | Men’s rowing head coach | $2,849.54 |
| Peter Turney | Men’s rowing assistant coach | $960.00 |
Photos: Mark Johnson’s career as Wisconsin women’s hockey coach
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson is congratulated by athletic director Barry Alvarez and chancellor Biddy Martin at the event to celebrate his team’s 2011 NCAA championship.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson watches as his team falls to St. Cloud State during a 2023 game at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson is surrounded by his team as they celebrate after defeating Minnesota 2-0 in the 2019 Women’s Frozen Four championship game in Hamden, Conn.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson speaks during a news conference after practice for the 2023 Women’s Frozen Four at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minn.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson speaks during a 2023 celebration for the team’s seventh national championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson is introduced during a celebration for the team’s seventh national championship March 20, 2023, at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson looks at the trophy after being drenched by his team following the Badgers’ victory over Ohio State in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four Championship game in Duluth, Minnesota.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson watches a January 2024 game against Merrimack at the LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson watches a January 2024 game against Merrimack at the LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin Badgers coach Mark Johnson reacts during a February 2024 game at the LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson speaks to his team during a 2021 game against Ohio State at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson talks during a virtual celebration at the LaBahn Arena after his team won the 2021 Women’s Frozen Four championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson wears a Madison Fire Department firefighter’s jacket while instructing his players during a 2020 double-overtime win over Ohio State at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson takes the stage during a celebration after the Badgers won the 2019 Women’s Frozen Four championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson watches highlights of the season with players before taking the stage during a celebration of the team’s 2019 Women’s Frozen Four championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson introduces his team during a celebration of the team’s 2019 Women’s Frozen Four championship.
Family members and friends of former Wisconsin men’s hockey player and current women’s coach Mark Johnson gather around a banner marking the retirement of Johnson’s No. 10 jersey during a 2019 ceremony at the Kohl Center.
Mark Johnson addresses fans during a 2019 ceremony marking the retirement of his No. 10 jersey at the Kohl Center.
Mark Johnson watches as a banner is raised marking the retirement of his No. 10 jersey during a 2019 ceremony at the Kohl Center.
Mark Johnson hands his No. 10 jersey to his mother, Martha, while his wife, Leslie, looks on during a 2019 retirement ceremony for Johnson’s jersey at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin defenseman Ty Emberson hands his No. 10 jersey to former Mark Johnson during a 2019 jersey retirement ceremony for Johnson at the Kohl Center. Prior to the ceremony, Emberson had worn the same number as the former hockey standout and member of the the 1980 gold medal Olympic team.
Wisconsin women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson speaks during a 2016 news conference at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson follows the action during a 2017 game against North Dakota at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson enjoys a 2014 team skate at Vilas Park in Madison.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson hoists the 2011 national championship trophy during a celebration at the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson addresses the crowd at an event celebrating his team’s 2011 NCAA championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson addresses the crowd at an event celebrating his team’s 2011 NCAA national championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson talks during a celebration after his team won the 2009 NCAA national championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson reacts after getting doused with ice water following the Badgers’ 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst to win the 2009 NCAA national championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson addresses the crowd during a 2007 reception at the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson poses for a photo at the Kohl Center before the 2006-07 season.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson talks to a player during a September 2006 practice.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson goes over a play during a September 2006 practice.
Wisconsin hockey coaches Mike Eaves, left, and Mark Johnson show off their 2006 NCAA national championship rings.
Wisconsin women’s hockey Mark Johnson prepares to address the crowd at a celebration of his team’s 2006 NCAA national championship.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson watches as his team takes on Ohio State in a 2005 game at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson prepares for his team to take on Ohio State in a 2005 game at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson runs a 2005 practice.
Coach Mark Johnson skates with the puck during a 2005 Wisconsin women’s hockey practice.
Mark Johnson, right, has won eight national championships as the Wisconsin women’s hockey coach.