Posted on: Tuesday, June 3, 2003

Jones' deal comes first

By Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writers

Contract negotiations for four University of Hawai'i head coaches have been put on the back burner until the athletic department secures a new deal with head football coach June Jones.

Women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji, baseball coach Mike Trapasso, softball coach Bob Coolen and women's basketball coach Vince Goo are entering the final year of their contracts. UH athletic director Herman Frazier has said he wants to sign head coaches before they enter the final year of their deals.

But Frazier said those negotiations will begin "as soon as we get June's (contract) done." After that, Frazier said, "we're going to zip through and make sure everything else is in order."

Despite optimistic media reports claiming a deal could be reached before the Board of Regents' meeting this month, Frazier insisted that no timetable has been set.

"We're not there yet," Frazier said.

Jones said he told his agent, Leigh Steinberg, that he wants to remain at UH after his five-year contract expires in January 2004. Jones said he does not want to participate in contract talks until a deal is imminent.

"I haven't heard from Leigh or Herman," Jones said. "I don't want to be involved in negotiations. I don't want to get excited and I don't want to get upset."

Steinberg said talks are progressing and he is hopeful a deal can be reached before the Aug. 30 season opener. The regents do not meet in August, but Frazier said, "keep in mind, you can always call a special session."

Jones earns $320,000 annually, with $220,000 coming directly from the university and Na Koa, the football program's booster club. Frazier said the majority of Jones' expected raise will come from the private sector. Frazier said he has secured enough verbal commitments to cover Jones' raise.

There are "enough people who I've come to know and also enough people who have said they would want to be involved with our program that I think we could fulfill our obligation," Frazier said.

Part of the delay, Frazier said, is his attempt to standardize the contracts of the head coaches.

"The existing contracts around here, they're all over the place," Frazier said.

By the time Jones' new contract is completed, Frazier said, "his whole deal could be 40 pages of documentation. It's gotta be right. We want the employee to be happy, and the institution to be happy, as well. That's why I'm saying it takes a little time. But we'll get there."

Frazier said he is considering including a good-behavior clause in each head coach's contract. He said he is asking the school's general counsel to review a draft of such a clause.