Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – Jim Leonhard is set to make $1.25 million over the next two seasons as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator.

UW officials released Leonhard’s contract to the Journal Sentinel on Sunday.

Leonhard, 34, was paid $225,000 as UW’s secondary coach last season, his first as an assistant coach.

According to the two-year contract:

Leonhard is to receive a base salary of $300,000 this season and an additional $300,000 in compensation from the UW Foundation.

His base salary is to remain the same for 2018 but he is to receive $325,000 in additional compensation.

Leonhard replaced Justin Wilcox, who was UW’s defensive coordinator for the 2016 season.

Wilcox received a base salary of $300,000 and $200,000 in additional compensation.

According to USA Today's database, the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the Big Ten last season was Michigan's Don Brown at $880,000. That was No. 17 nationally among Football Bowl Subdivision assistants.

Former UW quarterback Bart Houston, who was not selected in the National Football League draft this past weekend, has a tryout with the Oakland Raiders.

Wide receiver Robert Wheelwright has agreed to a free-agent deal with the New York Giants.

Illinois State center Mark Spelman, a graduate of Milwaukee Marquette High School, has been invited to the Chicago Bears' rookie minicamp.

Quarterback Philip Nelson, who attended grade school in DeForest before moving to Minnesota with his family, has a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Northern Illinois offensive lineman Lincoln Howard, who played at Osceola High School, has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.