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Spartans' AD, coaches get extensions

Michigan State's board of trustees announced Friday that it has approved contract extensions through 2016 for athletic director Mark Hollis, football coach Mark Dantonio and men's basketball coach Tom Izzo.

It marks a three-year extension for Hollis, who took over as athletic director in January 2008 after succeeding Ron Mason, who retired.

Dantonio received a new contract in December that maintained a five-year rollover and increased his overall compensation to $1.8 million, up from $1.13 million. The third-year coach will receive a $2 million bonus if he remains in the role through Jan. 15, 2016.

Izzo's deal maintains a seven-year rollover, though some of the terms have changed with the new extension. The longtime coach received an extension in 2004 that carried a base salary of $320,000 and supplemental income of $1.01 million. He also received additional compensation of $300,000, which had been deferred under his previous contract.

"Today's action calls attention to athletic leadership here that is marked by very good people, composing a very good team, and a future with stability as well as excellence," university president Lou Anna K. Simon said in a statement.

The board also approved contract extensions for women's basketball coach Suzy Merchant through 2014 and hockey coach Rick Comley through 2013.

Izzo recently told ESPN.com that the cohesion between Hollis and Michigan State's coaches has never been better during his 14 seasons at the helm of the Spartans' program.

"We had five ADs and five football coaches in my first 13 years, so there was no consistency," Izzo said. "Hollis has made sure that we do not separate. The last time that the AD, the football coach, the basketball coach and the hockey coach were on the same page, we were really making some runs."

Adam Rittenberg covers Big Ten football for ESPN.com. He can be reached at espnritt@gmail.com.