University of Hawai'i athletic director Jim Donovan has voluntarily accepted a 7 percent pay cut and other athletic administrators are expected to sustain mandatory trims while coaches could also be asked to accept reductions to contribute to the school's belt tightening.

The cuts come as UH addresses approximately $155 million in budget cuts over the next two years, including $48.8 million on the Manoa campus.

UH President David McClain Friday announced that he and his successor, M.R.C. Greenwood, will take 10 percent reductions. McClain said he will ask the board of regents to approve cuts for 210 other executives in the UH system. He is asking for reductions ranging from 6 to 9 percent, based upon the most recent performance evaluations.

Donovan would give up approximately $16,800 of what is believed to be a $240,000 annual salary. Because Donovan is under contract, McClain said yesterday he could not be compelled to submit to a salary reduction but did so voluntarily. "I think it shows what kind of a leader he is," McClain said.

Donovan confirmed the cut and said, "My thinking is that we are in leadership positions so sometimes we have to lead and sacrifice by example."

UH's three associate athletic directors, Carl Clapp, John McNamara and Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, would be required to take cuts if the regents approve. McClain said he has not submitted the request but plans to send the action memo to the regents in time for their Aug. 27 meeting. They are each believed to make between $100,000 and $150,000 in salary.

The cuts, if approved, could become effective Sept. 1.

Head coaches earn between $45,000 to $1.1 million each but would likely have to make their cuts voluntarily or through negotiation since they are under contract and are HGEA members.

Moreover, some coaches have language in their contracts expressly prohibiting "compensation adjustment."

McClain said he has not asked for such cuts and, if they were to be requested, would probably come from either the Manoa Chancellor or athletic director.

Several coaches, including women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji and associate head football coach Rich Miano, have said in recent months they would be willing to consider voluntary cuts if instituted elsewhere on campus.

Said Shoji: "I'll accept whatever they come up with. I don't think we should be exempt from any kind of cuts (if the rest of the campus is cut). .. I'll do my part."