WAC studying 12-school alignment

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The 10-school Western Athletic Conference is prepared to increase its membership as early as the 2004-05 academic year if qualified schools become available, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said.

During a teleconference this week, the athletic directors of the WAC schools, including Hawai'i's Herman Frazier, discussed the potential chain reaction triggered when Miami and Virginia Tech announced they were leaving the Big East Conference to join the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004.

Benson said the WAC is prepared to add teams if the Big East decides to replace Miami and Virginia Tech, a step that will likely create a domino effect of teams shifting conferences.

"We will be prepared to act swiftly, if necessary," Benson said.

Benson said the WAC's goal is to increase membership to 12, leading the way to two six-team divisions and the creation of a championship game in football.

Benson said the league wants to "get to 12, with the right teams. ... That's the direction the WAC wants."

He said there are no available schools of interest to the league. But the Big East's next step could change the WAC's position, Benson said.

"It depends on what schools are available," he said. "We're watching and waiting."

Benson said he does not anticipate losing any WAC teams to another conference.

"We're all hoping the Big East delays expanding," Benson said. "It'll give everybody some breathing room to pause and catch their breath."

Jones still waiting: UH football coach June Jones said he has not signed his new five-year contract.

Two weeks ago, the Board of Regents approved athletic director Herman Frazier's proposal to increase Jones' base salary to $800,000 annually. With incentives that could reach $120,000 and retirement and health benefits mandated under the state's collective-bargaining agreement with union members, Jones' contract is valued at more than $1 million annually.

Jones said he returned yesterday from a short vacation and has not reviewed the contract. The Hawai'i Government Employees Association was reviewing the incentives in Jones' contract.

Last year, Jones earned $320,000, including a $40,000 housing allowance. The base salary of his new contract, half of which will be paid by private donations, does not include such perks as a housing allowance.