Bonuses for coach Jones add up to $175,000

By Ferd Lewis and Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writers

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Coach's deal includes: Highlights of June Jones' original contract, which began Dec. 31, 1998 and is to run through Dec. 30, or until his new $800,016-a- year agreement is signed: • $210,000 annual base salary • Two courtesy cars • $40,000 annual housing allowance • $70,000 per year in guaranteed collateral income (radio, TV, etc.) • Minimum of 30 prime sideline football season tickets (not to be sold) • Minimum of six prime season tickets for all other UH sports (not to be sold) • Six Aloha Stadium parking passes • Opportunity to earn additional income from operating camps or clinics and production credits to advertise them on UH broadcasts and in publications • Two UH parking permits • 10 roundtrip airline tickets (coach seating) annually anywhere in the United States • 21 days annual vacation • Annual private school tuition for two children

A bonus of a month's base salary ($17,500) for every victory in excess of a break-even season is the most lucrative perk in Jones' current contract, based upon information released by UH yesterday.

Jones' contract, which began Dec. 31, 1998, and is to run through Dec. 30 or until the new five-year agreement is signed, was made available following last week's directive from the state's Office of Information Practices.

While the contract did not include any extraordinary clauses, Jones criticized the OIP's ruling, repeating his claim that disclosing the contract terms "will cost the school money." Disclosing the contract "was beneficial," he added. "It really helped everybody, didn't it?"

A new deal, which awaits Jones' signature and final approval by the school's Board of Regents, will be retroactive to July 1, 2003 and pay $800,016 per year through 2007 once executed. UH has said it will release that contract once it is signed.

After practice yesterday, Jones told The Advertiser there are no remaining negotiating points and that he will sign his new contract, although he has yet to receive it. "The lawyers are dealing with it," he said.

Under the terms of the existing deal, Jones qualified for $175,000 in bonuses because of the team's on-field success. His annual base salary is $210,000.

He earned $52,500 in bonuses for each of his nine-victory seasons in 1999 (9-4) and 2001 (9-3) and $70,000 for last year's 10-4 season.

Other terms of the original agreement include a $40,000 annual housing allowance, $70,000 per year in guaranteed collateral income (such as radio and television deals), two courtesy cars, a minimum of 30 prime sideline football season tickets (not to be sold), 10 roundtrip airline tickets (coach seating) annually anywhere in the United States, and free annual private school tuition for two children.

In addition, Jones was to receive $10,000 when the average grade-point average for first-year scholarship players is 2.7 or higher at the end of their first academic year.

UH officials were not immediately able to say if Jones had qualified for the academic bonus.

A clause allows the school to terminate Jones "at any time" for "convenience without cause." Termination for fraud, criminal acts, misconduct or breach of contract does not obligate the school to pay compensation.

Meanwhile, Jones may vacate the contract as long as he does not leave for another school in whatever conference UH is a member.

Most of the items are in line with college football standards, according to terms of other recently disclosed contracts, though somewhat on the lower side. For example, according to published reports, Utah coach Urban Meyer receives $80,000 per year for radio and TV, and new Washington coach Keith Gilbertson gets $150,000 compared to Jones' $70,000.