Dobelle: Jones deserves big raise
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
June Jones should get a multi-year contract with a pay raise that would put him among the two dozen best-paid college football coaches in the country, University of Hawai'i president Evan Dobelle said Wednesday.
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Roughly 20 percent of the 117 NCAA Division I-A head football coaches earn at least $1 million annually in base pay and incentives. A survey showed the average annual salary package for a Division I-A head football coach was $466,000 in 2000 and $540,000 last year.
UH football coach June Jones earns $320,000 a year.
That would mean Jones would be in line to receive a sizeable raise from the $320,000 he earns annually under terms of a five-year contract he signed with UH in January 1999.
The athletic department and Na Koa, the football program's booster club, pay Jones' base salary of $210,000 annually, according to Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg. In addition, Jones receives $70,000 from television and radio deals, and a $40,000 housing allowance.
UH officials and Steinberg have agreed to open negotiations on a contract extension for Jones in the next few days. "We're confident he'll be compensated for helping Hawai'i develop into a football power," Steinberg said.
Dobelle said he expects the cost of Jones' next UH salary package to be split between athletic department money and private contributions.
"That's pretty much what most (state) institutions do now with coaches' salaries," said UH athletic director Herman Frazier, who will handle negotiations with Steinberg. "There's some money that comes from the state and some money that comes from outside donors. They're all controlled by the institution. ... In these economic times, people frown upon state dollars (solely) going to those type of" contracts.
UH also could use signing bonuses, incentive clauses and low-interest loans as part of Jones' salary package.
Jones yesterday declined to comment on his contract situation, although last week he reaffirmed his commitment to remain at UH. Jones has said he would like to reach an agreement before Feb. 5, the first day of the signing period. Steinberg said he believes such a deadline can be met.
