CHICAGO (AP) – The University of Illinois board of trustees approved a three-year contract extension for Illinois-Chicago coach Jimmy Collins Thursday, a deal designed to keep him with the school through the 2008-2009 season.

The extension will raise Collins’ pay to $299,027 per year over the life of the contract. He’ll be paid $244,027 this year in salary and pay for education, public relations, consulting and promotional appearances.

The extension also includes performance bonuses of as much as 7 percent of his salary for reaching postseason play or meeting attendance goals.

Collins has coached eight seasons at UIC after a 13-year career as an assistant at the University of Illinois. He has a 131-109 record and has led the Flames to three straight 20-win seasons, including a school-record 24 victories last season.