When the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board met behind closed doors Friday afternoon, its members approved new contracts for five fall sports coaches.

Football coach Bret Bielema got a one-year extension through 2013; volleyball coach Pete Waite was extended a year to 2012; men's soccer coach Jeff Rohrman got a one-year extension to 2009; and women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins was renewed for one year through 2009.

Meanwhile, the board approved the recommendation that men's cross country coach Jerry Schumacher be offered a multi-year contract through 2011.

So why did the private session last nearly 90 minutes, and why was UW chancellor John Wiley on hand to speak to board members?

It had to do with an unusual request from UW athletic director Barry Alvarez that he have his job performance evaluated.

"I'm losing my chancellor," Alvarez explained. "I want it documented that I am doing a good job."

Wiley announced last month that he is retiring in September.

He hired Alvarez to succeed Pat Richter as UW athletic director when Richter stepped down April 1, 2004. Alvarez officially became full-time AD on Feb. 1, 2006.

This was after 16 celebrated years as the Badgers' football coach, including two in which he worked both jobs.

Since then, Wiley has made the position of UW athletic director the equivalent of a faculty dean.

Wiley said he normally evaluates deans once every five years. As part of Alvarez's evaluation, Wiley and his top aid, Casey Nagy, spoke with every major constituency that Alvarez touches.

That includes UW student-athletes and coaches and the UW Foundation as well as the UW Athletic Board. The feedback?

"Very good," Wiley said.

"Very positive," Alvarez said.

"I think he's done a fantastic job in all respects," UW Athletic Board chairman Walter Dickey said of Alvarez. "The major one is leadership. In terms of leadership, he's really set the tone for the department."

No action was required from the UW Athletic Board on this matter because Alvarez reports to Wiley.

"This was a courtesy to the board," Dickey said.

Asked about specific feedback from UW Athletic Board members in closed session, Dickey said: "It would be really inaccurate to say that there was anything negative said. It was more issues that were addressed."

Alvarez's five-year contract pays him $600,000. That includes $500,000 from the school and $100,000 from the Mendota Gridiron Club and the National W Club. According to the contract, Alvarez agreed voluntarily to forego annual merit increases, adding that he "understands" that the salary will remain at this level for the duration of the contract.

Alvarez is the winningest football coach in school history. His teams won three Big Ten Conference titles and three Rose Bowls.

Alvarez said his approach to being AD is similar to running a football program in that he's tried to foster a supportive, winning, team-oriented atmosphere.

Asked what makes him feel good about his performance to date, Alvarez had a lengthy list.

"Number one, that the morale is good within the department, according to the feedback," he said. "We haven't had any questions with compliance, our academics are very strong in all sports.

"It makes me feel good that the program is operating the way you'd want it to operate. Our coaches are doing well. I think our teams are doing well.

"Things are going well. So, the thing is, to look around and try to find something wrong," Alvarez said.

UW Athletics has a $70 million budget, operates in the black and is working on a plan to add more facilities to an already modern lineup.

On the to-do list: Repair the public relations damage from the Big Ten Network — fans in the state have been alienated by the lack of a cable outlet — and cultivate more sources of revenue without raising ticket prices.

"We want all our fans, well-off and not-so well-off, to have access to our athletics and to care about it and to not feel as if they're somebody we don't care about," Dickey said.

Alvarez declined to list specific issues of concern.

"Just keep getting better in everything," he said.