Jones contract talks stalled

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

June Jones has a 21-16 record in three seasons at UH

School officials described the gap as "significant" although they declined to offer details on what is believed to be an overall seven-figure, multi-year package that would place Jones among the Top 20 nationally.

Jones, who led UH to a 9-3 record this past season and is 21-16 in three seasons, has two seasons remaining on the original five-year deal he signed upon taking the job in 1998. Jones reportedly receives a salary of $320,000 per year plus incentives, a salary well below the national Division IA average of approximately $500,000.

UH offered a five-year extension after the 1999 season but Jones has said he never signed it.

New negotiations between Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, and Walter Kirimitsu, UH chief of staff, to extend the deal through 2008 began in December but have been slow. Prior to the Dec. 8 Brigham Young game Jones told ESPN.com he hoped to have a deal reached within 10 days. Then, the coach said he was hopeful a deal would be done in early January.

"There's no timetable on it (negotiations)," Jones said yesterday. "I know I'm not really concerned about anything right now. Really, like I said, I don't really have any feelings other than I'm happy with what I'm doing. I just want to coach football. I've said all along that I'm happy where I'm at."

Said Paul Costello, UH vice president for external affairs: "At this point, there are no talks scheduled (but) we're looking forward to renewing those talks again. We're hopeful something can be worked out. The bottom line is that we hope to put together a deal that is good for June Jones but also realistic for a public university."

Hugh Yoshida, UH athletic director, said, "We want to keep June. He's done a great job for us."

Steinberg, whose firm also has a marketing agreement with UH, is reportedly proposing Jones receive a substantial raise in line with industry standards, a hefty bonus provision, salary upgrades for assistant coaches, a FieldTurf practice field and UH autonomy over Aloha Stadium.

UH officials have said most of the items are do-able except for the amount of the bonus and operation of Aloha Stadium, which the school does not have the legal authority to grant.

"Steinberg may be comparing it (the proposals) against the NFL, but I don't feel we're competing against the NFL," Costello said.

Costello said UH is trying to do what it can, "within the university, the community at large."

Jones declined to discuss the terms he is seeking or where negotiations broke down. "I don't want to talk about that stuff in the newspaper; that's not how I do things," Jones said.

In the existing contract, Jones has an escape clause that, upon written notice, allows him to leave before the completion of the contract provided he does not go to a school in any conference UH is aligned with.

"June told the president he will remain for two more years even though talks have stopped," said Costello. "We're hopeful they will start again and come to an agreement that benefits both parties."

Gov. Ben Cayetano and UH officials have said school control of Aloha Stadium is important to Jones and a potential source of revenue for the school. To that end, Cayetano has sent bills to the Legislature, without success.

House Bill 621, which calls for the state to turn over operation of Aloha Stadium to UH, was "held" in committee last week, effectively killing it in the House, and indications are Senate Bill 2349, a companion measure, will meet the same fate.

State Rep. Jerry Chang D-2nd (S. Hilo), chairman of the House tourism and culture committee, said he was concerned the UH Board of Regents hadn't yet given approval to the school to run Aloha Stadium and said he was told by stadium officials that an analysis of the facility prepared by Steinberg & Moorad contained inaccuracies.

Chang said he was told "Mr. Steinberg never interviewed any (Aloha Stadium) staff members while making the report."

Steinberg was not immediately available for comment.