The nine full-time assistant coaches from the 2003 staff — including Tyson Helton, who left to accept a coaching job in March — are promised the equivalent of one month's salary if the Warriors qualify for a postseason bowl.

Based on the staff's salary scale, the bonuses range from $5,000 to up to $8,333 per coach.

The UH athletic department, which has finished in the red for three consecutive fiscal years, has yet to pay the bonuses.

Troubled by the assistant coaches' situation, Rie Wong, who administers her late husband's foundation, decided to make a donation, withdrawing money from the foundation account.

"I wanted to help them because they deserve it and they don't make much money," she said.

The check was made to Na Koa, the Warriors' booster club, and forwarded to athletic director Herman Frazier.

Through a spokeswoman, Frazier said the entire amount will go toward the coaches' bonuses. Six UH assistant coaches yesterday declined to comment on the donation.

UH coach June Jones, who accepted the donation at the team banquet on Sunday night, recalled Ed Wong's support of the football program.

Wong and four other selection committee members went to San Diego in December 1998 to convince Jones to accept the UH coaching job. Jones, who had received a contract extension to remain as the San Diego Chargers' head coach, opted to leave the NFL and sign with UH.

"He was a good guy," Jones said.

Wong was Na Koa's co-founder and president. "He did a lot for the (football) program," Na Koa president Don Murphy said.

The UH assistants are due another bonus because the Warriors qualified for this year's Hawai'i Bowl.

Former UH head coach Bob Wagner advocated bonuses for reaching postseason bowls because the coaches are assuming added work.

In some UH programs, such as men's basketball, the bonus system was replaced by a plan in which the money is included as part of the base pay and guaranteed compensation package.

Division I-A football programs usually use a portion of their bowl appearance fees to pay for the bonuses. The UH athletic department, mired in a financial slump, did not withhold the money for the bonuses from the 2003 Hawai'i Bowl appearance fee.

Warriors after two of state's top linemen

The Warriors are the front-runners to land two of the state's top linemen.

Rocky Savaiigaea, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman from Aiea High, said he is "93, 95 percent" certain he will accept a football scholarship from UH. He was strongly considering Utah before last week's announcement that head coach Urban Meyer was leaving to accept the top coaching job at Florida.

Aaron Kia, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound offensive tackle from Mililani High, said UH is "my top (choice) so far."

Kia is scheduled to visit San Diego State next week and Oregon in January.

"Right now, I'm looking hard to going to UH," he said. "I'm really thinking about it. I'm right there. I'm right on the verge of saying 'I'll sign.'"

For the first time in three years, the Warriors will be able to offer close to the NCAA limit of 25 initial scholarships.

Four of the scholarships are reserved. Inoke Funaki, a former Kahuku High quarterback, has returned from a church mission.

Defensive back Chris Assily committed to UH in February with the understanding he would enroll in January.

UH also has received commitments from Adrian Thomas, a 6-foot-5, 277-pound offensive lineman from Australia, and defensive end Brashton Satele of Word of Life Academy. Satele, who is 6 feet 1 and 280 pounds, is the son of two former UH standouts — linebacker Alvis and volleyball player Lee Ann (Pestana).

A win on national TV goes a long way

UH coach June Jones said not only did the nationally televised win over Michigan State allow the Warriors to become bowl eligible, it also attracted the attention of many athletes wanting to join the program.

"Unbelievable," Jones told The Associated Press. "By the time I got to the locker room, my cell was full. The e-mails are already stacked up on my desk from players that want to come, send tapes and telling me all about themselves."