Wallace agrees to 3-year deal

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

After several months of negotiations, Wallace and the UH administration agreed on a three-year contract with an option for an additional two years.

Wallace did not want to reveal specific salary figures, but he is expected to earn between $200,000 and $250,000 per year, including bonus incentives. His base salary will probably be around $180,000 — which would be a raise of $60,000 from his last contract.

The new contract likely will give Wallace the highest base salary in the Western Athletic Conference among the 10 basketball head coaches, although a few others will receive more in total compensation.

Wallace, last season's WAC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in UH men's basketball history, has been working since May 1 without a contract.

"I feel a lot more secure now," said Wallace, 60.

Wallace said details are still being finalized, but he expects to officially sign the contract by the end of this month.

"We've agreed to everything," Wallace said. "It's just a matter now of getting it in writing."

When Wallace's previous contract expired on April 30, he said that he would wait until a new athletic director was hired at UH before signing a new contract. However, he said the UH administration approached him within the last month because "they didn't want to drop everything on the new (athletic director)."

In 15 seasons as head coach at UH, Wallace has a record of 243-204. He guided the Rainbows to a 27-6 record last season — the most wins during a single season in UH history.

"If I keep having years like that, I could coach forever," he said.

Wallace has also guided UH to the past two NCAA Tournaments.

After last season, his name surfaced as a potential candidate for other head coaching positions around the nation. However, Wallace said remaining at UH was always his first option.

"My loyalty has always been with Hawai'i," he said. "Now I feel pretty good about finishing my coaching career here."

FEELING THE DRAFT

Savo shines: Predrag Savovic scored "about 20" points during the first scrimmage of the NBA Pre-Draft Camp last night at Chicago.

Savovic, an honorable mention All-American as a senior last season for Hawai'i, is one of 65 players participating in the four-day camp. Only the top players eligible for the June 26 NBA Draft were invited.

"I feel like I did what I needed to do," Savovic said. "I scored about 20, hit some 3's, played my game. But I still have to improve for the next two days."

Savovic, a 6-foot-6 guard, is projected to be taken as high as late in the first round.

Former Kalaheo High standout Julian Sensley is also participating. The 6-foot-9 forward applied for early entry into the NBA Draft, even though he has never played college basketball.