The board is scheduled to take up the matter in closed session today, chair Patricia Lee said. Athletic director Herman Frazier is expected to ask the board to allow Na Koa, the football booster club, to pay a portion of Cavanaugh's raise. An enhanced title might also be in the works, but Frazier declined comment, "until after I speak to the board."

Cavanaugh has held the title of offensive coordinator at UH, officials said. While head coach June Jones functions as the team's actual offensive coordinator, calling the plays, the title has been a device to award Cavanaugh a higher pay level.

San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey last month offered Cavanaugh what has been described as a "significant" pay raise, a multi-year contract and the title of assistant head coach to join the Spartans.

Lee declined to speculate on how the board would vote today, but said, "My personal opinion is that we're very grateful for his loyalty. My understanding is that he had an opportunity to leave and make a lot more money at another university."

Cavanaugh declined comment and Jones was not immediately available for comment.

Cavanaugh has spent six seasons at UH, where he has produced five linemen who were drafted by the NFL and another five who signed free-agent deals.