Wallace: '07 retirement official

Hawaii basketball coach Riley Wallace isn't hinting about his future any more.

Wallace told the Honolulu Quarterback Club at its weekly meeting yesterday that the two-year contract he signed last month includes a section specifying that he will retire after next season. Wallace indicated in a Star-Bulletin story on Oct. 14 that the 2006-07 season would likely be his final year.

"It's in my contract. I'm out in two," he told those in attendance. "They wrote it in there this time. No renegotiations, out in two. So I'll be gone after next year."

Wallace, 63, is entering his 19th season as UH head coach and the 'Bows' first win this season will give him 300 at the school.

Wallace said after yesterday's practice that he hasn't started thinking about retirement, concentrating instead on the upcoming season. He reiterated that he'd like to see associate coach Bob Nash be the next head coach.

"My main concern is this season," Nash said. "Coach Wallace is the leader of this team now, so I'm doing the best job I can to make sure that we keep the program at the highest possible level. Then it's going to get down to how (athletic director) Herman Frazier wants this program to continue from that point. I think I've done the best job I can and if I warrant being the head coach at the University of Hawaii at some point in time, that's something that I would love to do."