UW defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has been linked to openings elsewhere. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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San Diego— Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez knows the drill.

Because of Dave Aranda's track record for coordinating quality defenses — first at Hawaii, then at Utah State and for the last three seasons at UW — job opportunities tend to spring up in the off-season.

So far this year Aranda's named has been linked to openings for defensive coordinator at Michigan and USC.

Michigan has filled its vacancy. USC, which faces UW in the Holiday Bowl at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Qualcomm Stadium, still must hire a replacement for defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.

Wilcox, among four USC assistants fired by head coach Clay Helton one day after the Pacific 12 title game, reportedly had an annual salary of $800,000.

Aranda is paid $520,000 annually, including a base salary of $300,000. According to USA Today, Aranda entered the 2015 season 64th nationally in assistant pay, including 12th among Big Ten assistants.

Speaking about Aranda's future beyond the Holiday Bowl, Alvarez sounded confident UW is in good position to retain him. That confidence springs, in part, from the knowledge Aranda knows he can be selective and not jump at the first job offer that comes his way.

"Dave's compensation is fair," Alvarez said, noting he has given head coach Paul Chryst more money to pay the assistants in 2016. "I think people need to (understand) that you don't leave jobs just because somebody is going to pay you more money.

"It's quality of life. You've got a wife and kids that are happy and have adjusted. You've got kids that like their school.

"You have some job security, as much as you can have in this business.

"Somebody can pay you a lot more money. You can go there and the school systems may not be good. If your wife isn't happy, you're not going to be happy."

Aranda, married with three children, has explained several times he and his family are comfortable in Madison. He turned down an offer to leave UW with head coach Gary Andersen and run the Oregon State defense.

"There is a lot more to it and that is the thing people don't understand," Alvarez continued. "There aren't many guys who worked at our place who wanted to leave.

"Now guys leave because they get promotions. But I don't know a guy that wanted to leave, that (said): 'I hate this place. My kids aren't happy. My wife's not satisfied with the schools.'"

Alvarez, the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame before he took over the UW program in 1990, appreciates the work Aranda has done at UW, for two seasons under Andersen and this season with Chryst. In three seasons under Aranda, UW has allowed an average of 16.9 points per game. That is the No. 2 mark nationally during that time, behind only Alabama (15.7).

"Dave has brought a defense that really matches up well with all the spread offenses and can still hold up against the running teams," Alvarez said, noting Aranda uses so many personnel packages he has no true base defense. "Our guys don't flinch when teams come out and they are spread out all over the field."

Alvarez hated facing spread offenses when he was head coach.

"We used to have a hard time matching up," he said. "The way he matches up and still can pressure people and create problems, it is a very unique defense."