Posted on: Thursday, June 23, 2005
UH will likely top WAC in salaries
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Board of Regents' decision to move forward on new, more lucrative contracts for athletic director Herman Frazier and men's basketball coach Riley Wallace yesterday likely assures the University of Hawai'i will be at the top of the "new Western Athletic Conference" in salary structure.
"I think the board has done a great job of listening to us about where we need to be (in salaries) in order to be competitive," Frazier said yesterday. "We're where we need to be, no doubt about it."
"Virtually across the board, I would have to think Hawai'i is at — or near — the top in (that conference)," said an industry figure familiar with contracts in the WAC, where Rice, Southern Methodist, Texas-El Paso and Tulsa depart at the end of the month to be replaced by Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State.
Even before yesterday's meeting, at least 10 UH coaches or administrators were earning $100,000 or more per year in base pay. By contrast, less than half that many were in six figures four years ago.
Compensation and benefits comprised the largest share, 46 percent, of UH expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, according to the most recent audit.
Frazier, football coach June Jones, women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji, women's basketball coach Jim Bolla, baseball coach Mike Trapasso and associate athletic directors Tom Sadler and John McNamara are all thought to be at the top in base pay, according to people in the conference familiar with salary norms.
Wallace, even with the raise, appears to be one of the few exceptions in major sports. Fresno State's Steve Cleveland will receive a reported $400,000.
While the WAC does not hold competition in men's volleyball, UH coach Mike Wilton is due for a raise above his $100,018 salary, Frazier has said.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
Board members indicated the contracts of both advanced to the July 18-19 meetings, where a public announcement of the terms is pending. Both were up for multi-year extensions and raises on their current $210,000 salaries but, citing board policy against disclosing results of executive session personnel decisions, interim UH president David McClain and others refused to reveal details.
The rise in salaries got its impetus from former UH President Evan Dobelle. Upon taking over at UH, Dobelle declared: "Whether it is athletics or sociology, the only way you can tangibly give respect to people is not telling them you respect them; you have to pay them. Otherwise, it's just a lot of rhetoric."
