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Illinois Board Approves Athletic Director Contract Extension Through 2036 With Salary Increase to $2.15 Million
The University of Illinois board of trustees approved a contract extension for athletic director Josh Whitman through 2036 on Thursday. The deal raises his salary above $2 million and includes retention bonuses.
Jul 16, 6:48 PM·1m read1 source
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The University of Illinois board of trustees approved a contract extension for athletic director Josh Whitman through 2036 on Thursday. ESPN reported the agreement includes a salary increase of more than $600,000 to $2.15 million for the 2026-27 year. Whitman, 47, will receive an annual retention bonus of $500,000 each June 30 he remains in the role.
His base salary will rise by $100,000 each year of the deal, which carries $26.1 million in total compensation or $31.1 million when the bonuses are included. The contract bars Whitman from taking positions at other universities during its term. He has held the Illinois post since February 2016 and has received four prior extensions.
The board's agenda noted that Whitman has guided the program to recent achievements, including the men's basketball team's first Final Four appearance since 2026 and the football program's best two-year win total of 19 games. Whitman hired the current men's basketball coach Brad Underwood and football coach Bret Bielema.
A former Illinois tight end who played from 1997 to 2000 and spent time in the NFL, Whitman previously served as athletic director at Wisconsin-La Crosse and Washington University.
As of July 16, 2026, he ranks as the fifth-longest tenured athletic director among Autonomy 4 institutions.
